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“More than one-third of Division-I NCAA female athletes reported attitudes and symptoms placing them at risk for anorexia nervosa, while male athletes were also at risk,” according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website.

Surprisingly, despite being fit, muscular and toned, more than 33 percent of all NCAA D-I female athletes battle eating disorders and negative body image issues today.

This is an extremely poignant issue for young people today; especially for those who suffer silently, unaware that they could die from their eating disorder.

For me, the horrific reality of eating disorders came crashing down on January 17, 2010, when I was devastated to learn that my best friend since elementary school, Hannah McKay, had died from complications due to an eating disorder.

Hannah was only 19 years old; besides being selfless, kind and genuine to everyone she crossed paths with, Hannah was a dedicated and talented athlete who played basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and even pole-vaulted.
I had no idea that Hannah had been battling bulimia throughout middle school and high school because I moved to a different town, it was only a few months prior to her death that she opened up to me about her deadly battle.

Although Hannah did not look sickly, the detrimental effects of bulimia took its toll on her body and health, and she had developed a heart condition.

The external pressures of body image, competitive athletics, media, peers and consequent eating disorders are spiraling out of control, these diseases prematurely claim the lives of too many young people in our country, like Hannah.

According to NEDA, nearly 10 million males and 35 million females are fighting life-death battles with eating disorders in America today.

Today the most common types of athletes who suffer from eating disorders are those participating in competitive dance, cheerleading, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, diving or other sports that focus on assessing an athlete’s overall form and body type, though they are not the only ones.

Wrestlers frequently drop weight quickly through unhealthy methods in an effort to “make weight.”

Many wrestlers try to sweat off a few pounds by working out in plastic wrap and sweatshirts, starving themselves before matches or purging food.

In professional sports, several Olympic gymnasts including Christy Henrich died as a result of an eating disorder. After being called “too fat” by a judge, Henrich went from weighing 93-pounds with a height of 4’10” to an obscene 47-pounds, dying only eight days after her 22nd birthday.

Increasingly today, athletes are obsessing over their body-types and muscular build. According to national eating disorder statistics on the “Break Free Beauty” website: “While male athletes tend to be known for their strength and muscular physique, many female athletes gravitate toward thin, compact body types. Studies have shown that female athletes are six times more likely to develop eating disorders than other women in the general population.”

Media is a major influence on how members of our society perceive beauty. TV shows, the Internet and magazines showcase stick-thin models with their bones bulging from their bodies, gaunt complexions and with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths.

This mass-mediated portrayal of “beauty” is not a universal truth, instead, it is merely an image that is force-fed to our society by the media gatekeepers of pop-culture, fashion and entertainment today.

Peers, family members, coaches or acquaintances that we see everyday can help to positively impact our body image and self-perceived beauty to promote healthy living and to help prevent eating disorders.

I am still in disbelief over the death of Hannah, it is a tragedy and one that could have been prevented if she took the road to recovery sooner. On behalf of all the family and loved ones that were close to Hannah, I cannot stress how important it is for anyone struggling with an eating disorder to immediately take steps and address the issue – eating disorders are deadly.

If you or anyone that you know is combating negative body image, eating disorders, or self-destructive behaviors, organizations like NEDA are available to help you get better and enjoy your life.

“NEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. We campaign for prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders.”

My friend Hannah was on the road to recovery with the help of NEDA before her life was cut short last January. Above is a photo of Hannah with her mother, Melissa McKay, at the First Annual NEDA Walk in New York City last October.

It is chilling to think that only one year ago Hannah was still alive and well, walking the road to recovery, prevention and awareness at the NEDA Walk in NYC.

In commemoration of the life of Hannah McKay and in an effort to raise awareness about eating disorders, a group of family members and friends of Hannah’s will be participating in the Second Annual NEDA Walk on Sunday Oct. 3, at Riverside Park in Manhattan.

Proudly representing “Hannah’s Cause,” friends and family will be walking to raise money and awareness for NEDA just as Hannah did last year.

To donate to NEDA or participate in any of their fundraising events such as the NEDA Walk, visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org