Next week, The University of Memphis will take part in Eating Disorders Awareness Week, or EDAW.
Every February, Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, or EDAP, sets aside a week to provide eating disorders organizations, mental health professionals, families and concerned individuals around the world with information on prevention events.
EDAW events are planned in over 1,000 K-12 schools, colleges, hospitals and communities.
Last year, the week was organized by over 600 coordinators and celebrated in all 50 states.
The three Ds, body dissatisfaction, dieting and the drive for thinness are the conditions EDAP tries to help identify and change.
According to EDAP, media images like advertising and celebrity spotlights help to create cultural definitions of what is beautiful and “good.”
Although media messages screaming “thin is in” may not directly cause eating disorders, they do have power over development of self-esteem and body image.
An EDAP.com study of magazines discovered that women’s magazines contained 10.5 times more advertisements and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines.
“Eating disorders are not as common in males because of less pressure via media and traditional stereotypes, though they are increasing,” said Charissa Camp, a psychologist at The Center for Student Development at The U of M. “Gay males are more at risk generally than heterosexual males. Also at risk are groups of males that have pressure to maintain a certain weight, like wrestlers.”
The term “eating disorders” refers to a group of syndromes including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, according to the health department of Columbia University.
Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a variety of factors, including low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Interpersonal factors include troubled relationships, a history of being teased and pressures to be thin.
Once started, eating disorders can create a cycle of physical and emotional destruction.
“On campus, there is a new diagnosis,” said Heather Roundtree, nutritionist at The U of M. “The most common eating disorders are the obvious anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, but the new one is ‘eating disorder non-other specified.’ It includes exercise bulimia, where it’s not just the bingeing and purging, but bingeing, then over-exercising.”
Young people who are vulnerable to developing an eating disorder share similar concerns and personality traits according to EDAP. These include perfectionist tendencies, competitiveness in sports, problems with communicating and difficulty dealing with conflicts. Secrecy and lying are frequently used to shield an eating disorder.
Like eating patterns, exercising may become compulsive with strict adherence to a particular schedule. Severe anxiety results when a schedule or pattern is disrupted.
Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening conditions that affect a person’s emotional and physical health. Every support system in the body can be affected. Some of those effects are hormonal changes, intestinal disturbances, neurological problems and cardiovascular consequences, such as heart attacks.
“This (eating disorders) is definitely an issue we are concerned about,” said Steve Whistler, assistant director for recreational and intramural services at The U of M. “We’re always looking for signs that someone has an eating disorder.”
At The U of M, psychological counseling is available for those with eating disorders. There is also a nutritionist in the health center.
“Care is generally coordinated with a medical professional, a physician and sometimes with a dentist and psychiatrist too, as medication is sometimes helpful,” Camp said. “There is also a free eating disorders support group in the community run by Dr. Beth Lyons, a psychologist specializing in treatment of eating disorders. We regularly refer to Dr. Lyons’ group from the Center.”
Whistler said EDAW is an excellent way to get people to acknowledge their disorders.
“Willing to admit there is a problem and knowing you need help and support is the best advice I can give.”
An information table will be set up at The University Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a nutritionist. Another booth will be in the Student Recreation and Fitness Center on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. to noon with a health educator.
