This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association. According to the NEDA’s Web site, the week’s goal is to improve access to treatment of eating disorders and eventually prevent eating disorders and issues with body image.
But one week isn’t enough time to fix the potentially fatal problem eating disorders pose to millions of people across the country.
Eating disorders are classified as a mental illness. Anorexia has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness. Eating disorders are such a serious problem for young men and women that the ideas and principles of Eating Disorder Awareness Week need to be applied to every week.
Luckily, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers a variety of services to help students deal with eating disorders even after Eating Disorder Awareness Week is over.
The University Health Center in particular has a number of resources to aid students in maintaining healthy eating habits.
Counseling and Psychological Services has a team of psychologists, counselors, a dietician, physician, nurse and exercise specialist available to help students with individual counseling, support groups and medical and fitness evaluations.
CAPS also has a page on its Web site devoted to eating disorders with information on warning signs and links to other resources on eating disorders.
Eating Disorder Education and Prevention is another option for students looking for help. The CAPS-sponsored volunteer organization focuses on eating disorder awareness and prevention by educating students on disorders and working to help them develop a positive body image. EDEP holds bimonthly meetings and sponsors events and educational booths in the Nebraska Union.
If not properly treated, an eating disorder can quickly escalate into a life-threatening condition. We encourage students to be aware of the dangers of eating disorders and take advantage of the many services UNL offers to treat these conditions.
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