By Shannan Ferry

Liana Rosenman battled with anorexia nervosa for five years. After many struggles, she sought treatment where she befriended two other teenage girls, Kristina Saffran and Becky Allen, with the same eating disorder. The three helped each other on the road to recovery, and together they founded Project HEAL, a non-profit organization that creates awareness of eating disorders.  

Now an elementary education major at the University, Rosenman shared her story and the complexity of anorexia at an eating disorder workshop on March 1 for P.R.I.D.E. week and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

“My goal for this presentation is to inspire someone to help themselves or someone close to them,” said Rosenman. “I would like to start a Project HEAL chapter at Hofstra, as well as a club focusing on body image.”

Since its initial start, Project HEAL has skyrocketed with media appearances, fundraising events, and 17 chapters openings around the country.  

Alongside Rosenman, licensed clinical social worker Aviva E. Braun discussed her experience working with people in the field. She described the three types of eating disorder perspectives: feminist, psychoanalytical and the cultural. Braun also explained how to reach out to someone that might have an eating disorder.   

“It was very powerful, especially when Liana talked about her own experience struggling with an eating disorder,” said Analicia Austin, a senior at the University. “It taught me that anybody can have an eating disorder and overcome it.”