READERS RESPOND

I think the Newport-Mesa community owes Jessica Garrison gratitude

for opening the doors to the problems at Corona del Mar High School.

As a former student of Corona del Mar and a present Newport Harbor High

School student, I know both sides. At Corona, it is a sad sight when

sickly skinny girls pass by in the hallway.

Although they may seem perfect, anyone with enough intelligence would

know that they are anything but. I believe that the community cannot

point fingers and retaliate by saying that this article favors Newport

Harbor. As part of my psychology final exam, I covered eating disorders.

And in fact, I did mention Corona del Mar’s problem because, like your

reporter, I felt the need to break barriers. And my classmates were not

gleeful but in fact concerned.

Many kids at both schools are friends, and true, there is a

traditional rivalry; but beyond that, there are strong ties and bonds

between both. I attended the lecture by Ann Hatfield, and I think it was

the best thing that she could have done for both herself and the school.

Ann has successfully become a role model for girls afraid to get help.

And for that, I feel that the community also owes Ann thanks for her

courage.

I think that Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar are both excellent

schools, but both have problems. I do not think anybody at Corona was

gleeful when there was a drive-by shooting at Harbor. Ultimately, I

believe the parents need to recognize whether or not their child is

suffering from an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are all about control. When a girl or boy can only

control what they eat in life, it gives them opportunity to create a

self-image in which they strive to be perfect. We cannot blame each

other, only the culture in which we live with the fashion magazines and

TV shows portraying too-skinny girls as perfect.

In conclusion, I do not believe that the Daily Pilot favors either

Newport Harbor or Corona del Mar. It is only trying to educate

Newport-Mesa citizens, and with this article, it opens up a lot of doors.

I know for a fact parents probably don’t want to see the problem these

girls are having, but ignorance truly isn’t bliss, especially when it’s a

matter of life and death.

Whitney Rempp

NHHS class of ’01

Congratulations to you and your staff writer, Jessica Garrison, for

the informative article published Saturday about the extreme measures the

girls in our community take to have “the perfect body.” I hope this

information has brought to light that this is a community issue, not just

a Corona del Mar High School problem.

I am very proud of my daughter, Ann Hatfield, for telling her story.

In her quest to help others, she has helped herself overcome her own

eating disorder. Unlike most illnesses, there is not a pill to swallow to

fix it, nor is there an easy plan to follow. For a year, we lived life on

a wild roller coaster ride.

My advice to suspecting parents is to not wait, but seek help

immediately. Annie’s weight continued to spiral downward during the first

three months of therapy and then see-sawed the next six months. Time is

of the essence.

Please allow me the opportunity to thank Sally Kendrick, Deborah

McCarthy and Dr. Paul Corona for helping us save Annie’s life. Also, the

wonderful staff at Corona del Mar High School, including my favorite

ladies in the attendance office, with whom I had daily contact for a long

while.

Gretchen Hatfield

Newport Beach

I was just at an orientation at Corona del mar High School for

incoming seventh-graders. I have been reading the paper about the eating

disorders in the high schools, and it hit a note with me.

The kinds of vending machines at that high school are soda machines

and candy machines. I just think that is totally unacceptable. I think

that possibly these children with eating disorders -- their parents are

giving them money -- they are perhaps getting soda at break time, another

diet soda at lunch time and calling it lunch.

I just think it is unacceptable to even offer that kind of food on the

premises of a school. There is no nutritional value. It is not necessary.

It is absolutely ridiculous. I am interested in setting up a committee to

get the vending machines either removed or replaced with something of a

little bit better nutritional value. Maybe it could be a sports drink or

a healthy snack the kids could have.

I think a good alternative to the soda machines would be to offer

something they could get at a juice bar. This way they could get at least

some nutritional value while keeping their weight in mind. Get rid of the

junk food. Offer something healthy. Something that they could still

maintain or watch their waistline.

Cathy Smith

Newport Coast

My comment regarding the students joining against eating disorders is

this: At this moment, it is time for each one of us to get some wisdom

from God. Eating disorders are not only an individual’s problem, but

[also a result of] society’s expectations for them and how the temporal

flesh should look or should not look.

Let us start with ourselves by eating healthy foods that God created

and getting medical help when it is needed to make proper choices

regarding our health. Again, I say begin with wisdom, balance and not

starvation for beauty. Overeating stuffs feelings down deeper.

Henceforth, the end of the blame game starts here.

Reg McMahon

Costa Mesa