What is the price for being thin?

Our society has set the bar high-size matters when it comes to beauty.

Whether or not you agree with this statement, it is impossible to ignore this message. It is all over our magazines, our Web sites and our trashy Garden State-inspired television shows.

It seems that our society will go to any length to achieve the "perfect" body. A startling statistic says that one in four women will experience an eating disorder while in college. Juxtapose that with the female undergrad population here at UD, and almost 900 of your peers will be that stat.

Feeling uneasy?

People don't realize that eating disorders are not just limited to anorexia or bulimia. A new trend is gaining popularity and, frankly, it's frightening.

Drunkorexia may initially seem like a funny concept, but it's no joke.

Binge drinking means a pretty high caloric intake, right? Now people are trying to offset the weight gain caused by this drinking by not eating during the day. Sacrifice a meal, chug a few beers; it's all equilibrium, right?

Wrong. So, so wrong.

Skipping meals in general is bad news. On the nutrition front, you are missing some much needed protein and sustenance. On an energy front, you're going to be struggling. Think your 9 a.m. class is boring now? Not eating isn't going to make it go by any faster.

On top of this, it is generally not a good idea to drink on an empty stomach. Yes, it gets you drunk faster, but it definitely comes at a cost.

There are healthier ways to get in shape. Exercise, limit your junk food intake, but for goodness sake, just eat. If you drink, fine. Haul yourself to the gym and run a few laps around the track if it matters that much.

For girls who do feel pressure to offset that extra calorie gain, or just feel pressure to lose weight in general, there are resources on campus that offer support. The group One in Four works to make students aware of the dangers of eating disorders and are a great source of information on the topic. Anyone interested can contact the founder of UD's chapter, Emily Buckley, at buckleeb@notes.udayton.edu.

Just remember that ultimately it is your body-make the choice to keep it healthy.