February 25 opens the National Eating Disorder Awareness
Week, an entire week dedicated to eating disorders, which have a huge impact on
many Americans.
Eating disorders are characterized by a preoccupation with
weight that results in severe disturbances in eating and other behaviors. Eating
disorders include anorexia (self-starvation and excessive weight loss), bulimia
(bingeing followed by purging in the form of vomiting, fasting, over exercising
or using laxatives, diuretics, insulin, or other drugs), and binge-eating
disorder (characterized by frequent episodes of overeating without purging).
Most people with eating disorders are females. Males also
can develop eating disorders, but do so less frequently. However, binge-eating
disorder appears to affect almost as many males as females.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health Web
site, eating disorders affect about 15 million people in the United States. Health
experts say teens and young adults are especially vulnerable to eating disorders
because of the media and the growing pressure to be prefect in a society where
image is everything.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is sponsored by the National Eating Disorders
Association and runs on the key message of “Be comfortable in your genes. Wear
jeans that fit the TRUE you.” The NEDA will be holding many events to try to
raise awareness of the various eating disorders out there. Its goal is to
educate people so that they can recognize the signs and symptoms of these
diseases earlier, to allow for faster treatment and better control of them.
“While you can adopt a healthy lifestyle and aim to be fit
for your particular body type, you cannot change genes. We want everyone to
start feeling comfortable in their genes by wearing comfortable jeans,” said
the website article.
According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders
Inc., a non-profit organization, which offers support groups and self help for
individuals and families affected by eating disorders, all free of charge, up
to 20 percent of those with serious eating disorders will die without
treatment. For more information, check www.anad.org.
Tamara Young, senior clinical counselor at University
Counseling Services, said prevention and information on eating disorders could
save lives.
“People need to be educated about the negative and often time’s
fatal consequences of eating disorders as well as develop healthier coping
strategies to deal with negative body image,” Young said.
Treatments for eating disorders include nutrition education,
psychotherapy, family counseling, and medications.
