Feeling good in your genes

Amy Weaver
Staff Writer
Published: February 26, 2008

Jane Snowden has a pair of skinny jeans that are “awfully tight,” even on her petite frame.

The Auburn University freshman has literally grown out of them, but is hesitant to get rid of them during the “Skinny Jeans” drive on campus this week. She says she has a hard time parting with any clothes. However, she supports the effort being led by a new campus organization, AU Body Image Education Eating Disorders Awareness, to collect clothing, mainly jeans, that do not fit comfortably.
Organizers say the idea is for everyone to feel comfortable in their “genes” by wearing comfortable “jeans.”

AUBIE EDA members will be collecting clothes at a table in the Haley concourse all week long. The drive is one of a number of activities offered this week by the group, in conjunction with Auburn Women in Science, to raise awareness about eating disorders.

Sophomore Tyler Weldon doesn’t own a pair of skinny jeans nor does he know anyone who suffers or suffered from an eating disorder. However, he believes more people need to know about them, even guys.

“I didn’t know anything bad until I got involved (in AUBIE EDA),” he said.

According to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, one in five women struggle with an eating disorder, and an estimated 10 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.

“Guys (certainly) don’t talk about it,” Snowden said. No one really does, and that’s part of the problem, they say. Eating disorders are almost taboo, Weldon said, because no one wants to talk about them.

Snowden believes society perpetuates the problem by “putting so much emphasis on body image. You can’t turn on the TV without seeing them criticizing some actress for being 125 pounds,” she said. Numerous commercials for diet solutions don’t help either.

Then there’s the myth of the skinny jeans. By clinging to them, women believe they have the motivation to get to that size again. Unfortunately, some take it too far and resort to desperate measures.
“They get upset about gaining weight and that can have serious consequences,” Weldon said. “Give them away. Don’t let them be a reminder of that.”

It would be unrealistic and unhealthy for Snowden to wear her skinny jeans, a size 0, again and she has accepted that. She’s a size 2 or 3 now, depending on the brand.
“Everyone is built differently. You don’t need to look like your friends,” she said. “Just be happy with who you are.”

“Being fit and healthy is good, but to a certain extent, it’s dangerous,” Weldon said. “This is the body God gave me. Just deal with that.”