Stand-up comedian, actress and eating disorder survivor Stacey Prussman will share her battle with bulimia with West Virginia University students at 7 p.m. Monday (Feb. 26) in the Mountainlair ballrooms.

Her talk,Looking Through Broken Mirrors: Understanding Eating Disorders and Body Image,is part of WVU s observance of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Feb. 25-March 3.

Prussmans eating disorder started early. She was put on her first diet at the age of 10.

Before her big audition for the Broadway production ofAnnie,her agent told her,There are no fat Annies; you need to lose some weight.

The next 15 years were filled with diet pills, fad diets, starvation, extreme exercise, depression and bulimia. Prussman was constantly trying to lose thatextra10 pounds.

I had an eating disorder for 15 years and had no idea,she said.

After being hospitalized as the result of her eating disorders, Prussman decided to fight back and learned to set her own standards.

I feel its very important for young women to understand what they are doing to their bodiesdestroying it,she said.I was brutal to my body and myself. I want others to learn from my mistakes.

Besides being a professional stand-up comedian and actress, Prussman is now a motivational speaker and certified personal trainer.

Its not easy admitting that I had a problem, but Ive been without urges for over five years now,she said.

Her presentationdescribed as brutally honest with a sense of humorincludes a discussion on the influence of the media, specifically magazines and television.

She will also address the realities of anorexia, bulimia, crash diets, fad diets and exercise addiction, as well as provide tools for learning self-acceptance by finding personal strengths, talents and learning to set individual standards.

Admission is free. For more information, call the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431.