February 17, 2003

Contact:
Jennifer Meriam, Director (954) 262-5355
Mike Laderman, Associate Director, (954) 262-5354
Mara Kiffin, Coordinator, (954) 262-5350

NSU Sponsors Healthy Image Program During Eating Disorders Awareness Week

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—The Office of Recreation and Wellness at Nova Southeastern University is bringing attention to Eating Disorders Awareness Week by sponsoring a program entitled, "Beautiful As You Are: A Model's Story," featuring Wilhelmina model Valerie Lefkowitz, on Tuesday, February 25, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., in the Rotunda of the Horvitz Administration Building.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW), February 23 - March 2, is recognized in thousands of schools and communities across the nation to draw public and media attention to disordered eating and body dissatisfaction. Often, those afflicted with an eating disorder (males and females) suffer in silence and face life-threatening consequences. Eating Disorders include Anorexia Nervosa (self-starvation), a disorder that deals with the intense fear of gaining weight with a refusal to eat, Bulimia Nervosa (binge-purge), which is characterized by episodes of bingeing and purging and Binge Eating Disorder (Compulsive Overeating), which is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full.

Lefkowitz, who began modeling in 1996 at the age of 15 as a plus-size model, has graced the pages of several magazines including: Twist, Glamour, Jump, Mode, YM and Seventeen. In 1999 Teen People named her one of America's top twenty influential teens. She is currently co-sponsoring and developing a positive body image campaign directed at teens and young adults through The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, and spreading awareness about the benefits of a healthy body image.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, please call (954) 262-7042. For more information about Eating Disorders, call 1-800-931-2237 or visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.