Approximately 8 percent of men do, too - a seemingly unimpressive statistic, except that it is eight times the national average. An additional 37 percent of the 536 students polled could be classified as chronic dieters and compulsive exercisers. Student Health Educator Louise Ousley said media and culture play off each other to create unrealistic body-image ideals. Our culture hates, we loathe, body fat, in spite of the fact that people in our culture are getting heavier and heavier over the years. We still, as a culture, feel that putting on body fat is a sign of moral weakness, inferiority, and that somehow you wear your failure.
Bad habits start young.
Senior psychology major Angela Cook began her first unhealthy diet at 13, and after a bout with anorexia, works with Student Health in educating students. There are a lot of attractive people here, and some people feel like they have to compete. Also, a lot of freshmen are afraid of the freshman 15. Approximately 90 percent of high school seniors are on a diet at any given time. What is more surprising, says Takahara, is that only 10 to 15 percent of those dieting could be considered overweight.