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That coupled with the fact more women work outside of the home but manage to earn less and still continue to do most household tasks and child care all have an impact on health. She pointed out that women are prescribed pain killers, tranquilizers and sleeping pills more frequently than men. They also use doctors and hospitals more than men. In particu- lar, said Longdon. women have a higher rate of psychiatric admissions than men. High rates of hospitalization or medical procedures may sometimes Choice and decision is what today's health care is all about, says a biochemist with the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine. "The whole dieting concept should be thrown out," says Dr. June Engel. "Dieting should be equated with ill health." "One woman told us of receiving, Valium to help her cope with her abu- sive husband. She stated It just made me more vulnerable to the abuse ... it said I was the sick one'." In another case of a new young mother, a health professional acknowledged the woman's stress, but suggested a new hairdo might help," said Longdon. The study, undertaken by the district health council, involved the participa- tion of more than 300 women. Longdon added other factors to be considered is the fact women are socialized to be less aggressive or assertive and many have less control in their lives. By DIAN E HART Special to the Beaver And one of these important choices should be to ban any and all advertisements for dieting. She said teens suffering self- image problems and low self-esteem are particularly vulnerable to diet- ing. For teen girls looking for the ideal figure and all that that promis- s, it means "ferocious dieting." Quest for perfect body leading to more illnesses among women Citing tindings from the Women's Health Study at a conference on Women's Health Saturday, Longdon said society's attitudes toward women us well as the nature of the health care system can result in either ovttrnedi- cation or under treatment for many women. By DIANE “A RT Sperial m the Beaver "demanding women's needs I I goes a long way to improving their own health, says execu- tive director of the Halton District Health Council Marlene Longdon. My Women often at odds with health care system Engel was speaking at the Women’s Health Conference at the 'egional headquarters Saturday. About 130 people attended the con- Fercnce. Anorexia nervosa is a fast grow- an epidemic, she said later in an nterview and one that shouldn't be qnored. About 300,000 young [men - those in the 14 to 22 age egory - suffer from anorexia ner- "They believe if they can't have lim beautiful bodies, they are no e "lt is a horrendous problem, a ocietal problem," said Engel siding that we "bombard" them vith all these false messages ‘omising a fabulous life with a m youthful body. "They are malnourished, serious- malnourished," she said. Engel, who edits the University fToronto's Faculty of Medicine ealth News told the crowd there is blame the victim notion in edicine today; that people feel ilty for getting, sick. "Lifestyle certainly does affect :alth but there is the element of ame the victim in this. For stance, it's pretty hard to make od choices when you’re always rrounded by donut shops and rger places, now isn't it?" She added that self-esteem is tical to health and that health is t merely just not being sick - that re must be an overall feeling of llbeing and vigour. There is a misconception that just rking out and getting fit is the be and end all. "But do they feel about themselves? That's very portant. A person's emotional th is also important." She added the patient is being n more and more as a partner in lth and people should learn to se a family physician who listens pathetically. She also urged people not to eve everything they read and to skeptical of media words like dical "breakthrough" or mile- ia 'The desire for the media image of the ideal woman is reflected in the use of these for profit, well advertised services and in the rate of eating dis- orders in women in general and teen girls in particular." . She called on women to become empowered when it comes to health care and to make informed choices about their own health. The more than 130 people registered for the conference listened to speakers before forming small groups to try to come up with individual strategies. For Helen Thomas, a clinical nurse consultant with the Hamilton Wentworth Public Health department. the need to have teens take control of their own health care is critical. Thomas said the work in a rural high school has pointed to the need to have teens respected and listened to if their own health is to be improved. "I was horrified to learn that while they all knew about MDs, they didn't think it was real and they knew abso- aa social custom eithei on the part of women or health professionals rather than medical necessity, said Lonadon. "The average Caesarian section rates have risen from 6% in I970 to 19.5% in 1988." added Longdon who said in one Halton hospital the rate peaked at 25%. She noted in Halton the recent growth of vein clinics, cosmetic surgery clinics and weight loss clin- ICS CLEARANCE 10% to 50% OFF SELECTED ITEMS EATON 'S SURPRI Sli, DAY S @1532 lutely hbthlng about other sexually transmitted diseases." said Thomas, noting that clamyddia is "rampant" in teen women. She said other issues of impor- tance to teens was drinking and driv- ing; stress; date rape - "not so uncommon as you‘d like to believe" - a feeling of isolation and concerns about sexuality. Thomas said she recalled one girl who had little to say on the issue of violence. However, Thomas said the girl spoke of one evening when she was out with her boyfriend and urged him to give her the car keys when he had drunk too much alcohol. "He refused and pushed her to the ground when she tried to get the keys. Now I think that's violent behavior but you know what she thought? That she was at fault - that she had gone Raw 568 We oet.1 mou All Eaton's stores will be closed Good Friday, April 9 and Easter Sunday, April 11. Thursday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 Further reductions storewide A PROJECT OF THE OAKVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Retailers realize that regular customers are their best customers. Get to know your retailer personally. It's good business and everybody wins! Em? l tot "Already, by l4 or l5 these girls have picked up societal values," said Thomas, Midwife Rena Porteous pointed to the resurgence of midwifery as but one example of the profound differ- ence people can make to their own health care. "l've seen the amazing difference that women can make, that people can make," said Porteous, noting the intense struggle it has taken for the past 10 years for midwifery to be rec- ognized by mainstream medicine. This fall, Ontario mothers will be able to choose midwives in hospitals, home births or free standing birth clinics. behavior She said continuity of care, informed choice and improving the " Goods Satisfactory or Money Refunded ond pushed him into the self' image on women are all integral to midwives. "We enable the person to give birth with power and dignity - the way it should be," she said. Mother Heidi McKean said the Breastfeeding Connection - a service The Hot The Hot Hi! M: - The Home Show gs Coming! , The. Home Show IS Coming! Hir. My name IS Homer! Pass the word! The 4th.Ant)uitl Oakville Lifestyle Home Show is coming to the Glen abbey Recreation Centre on Third Line. April 16. II. 18. Featuring the all now Oakwlle Real Estate Show running concurrently In the auditorium. PS 11