This week marks the annual Eating Disorder Awareness Week. There are a variety of events this week that emphasize the prevention of eating disorders as well as personal stories of recovery from those who have had eating disorders. Despite the common perception to the contrary, eating disorders are widespread amongst the student body. Due to this, Eating Disorder Awareness Week is an important time for students to learn more about the issue.
Two of the more common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The central features of anorexia nervosa are a drive for thinness, a morbid fear of becoming overweight and a pre-occupation with food. Sufferers of bulimia nervosa, a disorder also known as binge-purge syndrome, habitually engage in episodes of uncontrollable overeating, or binges. These types of disorders are found in much of the population, especially in young women and are a problem that needs to be addressed.
Similar to the common eating disorders is a preoccupation with food, exercise or one”s body shape. These worries are rampant in women and men of all age groups. This year”s event has emphasis on the media and advertising”s portrayal of the images of women. From the actresses on “Baywatch” to the singers on MTV and the models on the cover of “Cosmopolitan,” popular culture helps promote dangerous disorders. These societal pressures placed on women help to explain the striking gender gap for eating disorders approximately 90 to 95 percent of all cases of anorexia nervosa occur in females. An increased placement on male thinness and dieting in recent years match an apparent increase in the number of eating disorders among males.
Admitting that one has an eating disorder and needs help or treatment is perhaps the most difficult step. If you have a friend with an eating disorder, there are ways to help cope with and fight the eating issue. Getting the right help is essential, as there are a variety of treatment methods available. The options include individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional support and psychiatric care, among others.
The University of Michigan is a highly competitive atmosphere that breeds the need to stay on top and always have control. The transition from a comfortable family life to the responsibilities and pressures of the college atmosphere adds to the problem. It is important for students at the University to either help those suspected of having an eating disorder or attain treatment for themselves. Students who suffer from eating disorders are not alone or abnormal. It is a consequence of living in a highly developed society where the pressures of life seem to be overbearing and suffocating.