By: Stephanie Huynh, Editor-In-Chief
Photo courtesy of USA Against Eating Disorders

Over 100 students, faculty, and community members participated in the second annual Walk Against Eating Disorders on Feb. 15. The walk was held at the intramural fields, with keynote speakers, a “Scale Smash,” giveaways, free snacks, informational booths, and more.

Sarah Claire Hults, a sophomore psychology major, spearheaded the initiative last year. Her goal is to break the stigmas surrounding eating disorders, emphasizing that “food is fuel.”

“The mission of this walk was to raise awareness about eating disorders and work towards lowering eating disorder cases here on campus,” said Hults. “There is help available on campus, and not a lot of people are aware of that.”

During a class discussion of mental illnesses, Hults saw an abundance of misconceptions about what mental illnesses looked like, and she told her professor that the curriculum being taught was wrong. Soon after, Hults sent her first email to President Jo Bonner about organizing a walk against eating disorders.

“When I first came to South, [eating disorders] were something that I would mention a few times and I think I got some side-eye, like ‘Okay, that’s a strong word,’” said Hults. 

Hults was first diagnosed with an eating disorder when she was 16-years old.

“I was addicted to the lifestyle that I created, diet culture’s lies, my own false beliefs, other people’s comments, and the numbers that consumed my life. Most of all, I was addicted to the idea of a body that wasn’t safe for me to live in,” shared Hults.

Despite going to a residential program for therapy and help, Hults returned home to Mobile with no local supporting resources, and she fell back into a dangerous lifestyle pattern until 2022. Now celebrating recovery, Hults’ journey involves supporting others and dissolving the expectations about what a healthy body looks like.

“Eating disorders are the world’s deadliest mental illnesses. It’s the only illness that’s both mental and physical, and because of our screwed up society, it’s an illness that people tend to strive for,” said Hults.

From October 2023 to February 2024, Hults worked closely with the USA Counseling and Wellness Center to make this event come to fruition. Five months later, the first Walk Against Eating Disorders was held.

During this process, she also founded USA Against Eating Disorders, a new organization that has just begun the process of getting registered with Student Activities.

Payton Clark, the Service and Philanthropy Chair in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on campus, was one of the speakers at this year’s walk, and he shared his point of view of what eating disorders can look like for men.

“The reality is millions of men struggle with diseases like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders,” said Clark. “Due to the stigma and societal expectations, many suffer in silence. Men face immense pressure to fit certain body ideals, whether it’s being lean, muscular, or being ‘in shape.’”

“If you’re struggling, I’m here to tell you that you matter. Your mental health matters,” said Clark. “By having conversations like these, we can break the mold.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, reach out to any of the following resources:

Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/

University Counseling and Wellness: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/counseling/

South Alabama Against Eating Disorders Student Organization: https://southalabama.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/saaed