2008 Woodie Awards
One woman's struggle with an eating disorder
Aliza Moorji, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/2/08Section: News
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Schaefer is a singer, songwriter and author of "Life Without Ed." "Ed," she stated, was the acronym name she had given her condition that stood for "eating disorder."
Schaefer is also a regular guest on national radio and television stations, such as Dr. Phil and Entertainment Tonight. Her work has been featured in the Washington Times, the Chicago Times and Cosmopolitan. Schaefer is also a contributing author to "Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul."
Dr. Kathryn Hutchinson, executive director of Student Wellness introduced Schaefer to the audience.
"Somewhere along your path in life, you're probably going to run into somebody who is struggling with something, whether it be a friend, relative… [it is important] you have that information packed away in the back of your brain," Hutchinson said.
Schaefer began the lecture with a short story about "Ed."
"I have never been married but I'm happily divorced," she joked. "Ed" and she were together for about 20 years, and according to Schaefer, he was controlling, abusive and manipulative and she was never able to leave him.
Growing up, Schaefer said she used to play with her favorite toy, "Get in Shape" Barbie.
"I looked at her and actresses and billboards as what I was supposed to look like."
Another point that Schaefer emphasized was that eating disorders do not discriminate and they aren't a "rich, white girl's disease."
She said anyone can have an eating disorder despite their gender, skin color or weight size.
"I learned in therapy to treat my eating disorder as a relationship rather than a condition or illness," Schaefer said as she recalled walking into her first therapy session.
"At that point in my life at 22, I was 100 percent consumed by the eating disorder," she said.
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