Student bodies

'U' takes part in eating disorder awareness

Several University organizations are the force behind a group of events commemorating National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which began this past Monday. Eating disorders are a taboo topic in society, and this is why it is so important to make information and resources widely available, especially since eating disorders are such a significant problem on college campuses.

Organizers have held events all week to help students examine issues of body image. Through tomorrow, students can obtain a free private eating issues assessment from the University Psychological Clinic by calling 764-3471. Events earlier in the week included a poetry reading and a film screening.

Society and media images - found everywhere from fashion magazines, movies and MTV, not to mention standards created by cultural and social norms, make it quite clear how young adults are "supposed" to look. Developing and maintaining a positive self-image can be hard work. College students seem to be particularly vulnerable to poor body image that can lead to depression and anxiety - or a full-blown eating disorder. During college, students hold themselves up to scrutiny, and some apply these skills to their appearance and self esteem. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., 86 percent of people with an eating disorder develop it before the age of 20.

Recognizing an eating disorder in one's self or in others can be difficult. They are stereotypically seen as a white, heterosexual, upper middle-class women's issue. While 90 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are women, people of both sexes and every race and economic background can potentially develop eating problems. Looking thin does not make one anorexic. Having a "healthy" or "normal" body does not mean someone could not develop an eating disorder. The line dividing "normal" eating patterns and eating disorders is often blurry. Many people, although not suffering from clinically defined eating disorders, have unhealthy eating and exercise patterns. These damaging eating patterns can grow into a full time obsession that leaks into all parts of the individual's life - eating disorders wreck self-confidence in areas unrelated to one's body, such as academic performance.

The sooner an eating disorder is identified and treated, the easier and faster the recovery - and the smaller the potential for physical and emotional damage. Treatment addresses behavioral issues such as learning how to regain healthy eating habits and how to feel and respond to hunger again - along with psychological issues such as understanding and coping with the eating disorder.

Letting go of an eating disorder can be a scary prospect; people may feel it is ingrained in their day-to-day life and a unique part of their identity. It takes a lot of hard work to transform self-destructive behaviors into healthy, self-affirming ones. National Eating Disorder Awareness Week's events offer the opportunity to not only educate, but to spark discussions and develop the ongoing awareness campaign.

02-25-99