Supers:
:03-:08 Gainesville, FL
:11-:16 Valerie Š Bulimia Survivor
:25-:30 Erin Easterling Reporting
:38-:43 Dr. Daniel Perkins Š UF Family Development Specialist
TRT: 1:10
TAG: UF RESEARCHERS SAY SUPPORTIVE TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES CAN ALSO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN PREVENTING ABUSED ADOLESCENT WOMEN FROM TURNING TO BULIMIA.
VALERIE IS A STRONG, CONFIDENT WOMAN, BUT THAT WASNÕT ALWAYS THE CASE. FOR 10 YEARS, SHE BATTLED BULIMIA AFTER A CHILDHOOD FILLED WITH PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE.
VALERIE: "I think bulimia really is just wanting to destroy yourself and I absolutely despised myself because my mindset at the time was what I thought I let happen when I was a child." (:11)
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAPPENED TO VALERIE IS NOT UNCOMMON. A UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDY FOUND 1 OUT OF EVERY 3 YOUNG WOMEN, WITH A HISTORY OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, WILL MOST LIKELY BECOME BULIMIC. RESEARCHERS SAY BUILDING A SUPPORT SYSTEM CAN HELP BREAK THIS CYCLE.
PERKINS: "Parents and other family members have a key role to play in terms of adolescents and dealing with their identity, making them feel comfortable with themselves. And itÕs really about loving them for who they are and maybe not highlighting some things about their body and appearance." (:15)
WHILE PARENTS OFTEN PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN A DAUGHTER'S LIFE, THEY CAN ALSO HAVE A STRONG NEGATIVE EFFECT. UF RESEARCHERS SAY, IF PARENTS DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR CHILDRENÕS PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, IT COULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEIR TEENAGERS TO DEAL WITH INSECURITIES. IN GAINESVILLE, IÕM ERIN EASTERLING REPORTING.