Status of Women committee  I was so distressed while I was recovering from the gallbladder surgery, and I was able to speak to the psychiatric nurse at the hospital but they wouldn't let me see a psychiatrist because they said my case wasn't important enough. I'm sure that's not what they meant, but that was probably not the right thing to say to someone like me at the time.

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  I would say the people in your life should be people who support you. If you find your friends or some family members are speaking to you about your weight, or about your body, or anything really in your life that is detrimental to your development, then you should really cut them out of your life because you will not get better if your inner voice and your inner dialogue is positive, but the people around you are constantly second-guessing what you're doing.

Status of Women committee  I think people discuss it more, but I think to be honest with you I find in my experience no one really talks about bulimia, about that kind of eating disorder, because a lot of people find it's really disgusting to make yourself throw up, etc. I see personally a lot of awareness about anorexia, but especially bulimia, no.

Status of Women committee  Right, that's correct.

Status of Women committee  I think I knew something was wrong, but as it was mentioned by others, there's so much dialogue as a teen in school and with your friends about appearances and looks that it seemed like we were kind of all obsessed a little bit with our bodies. I did ballet also, not that it's not a great activity, but in my case it probably didn't help.

Status of Women committee  I think while I was suffering gallbladder attacks. I went three times to the emergency room before they actually decided that they should really remove it, because it was threatening my pancreas. That's when I knew there was a serious problem, but I think I was so scared of talking about it with my parents.

Status of Women committee  Good afternoon. First off, I would like to thank you for having invited me to appear before you today in view of this important study. I also want to emphasize how grateful I am that my employer has not only given me permission to attend this panel in person but also strongly encouraged me to do so.