USU offers help for eating disorders
Eight million men, women and children struggle with eating disorders, according to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), and young women attending college are especially at risk.
Brooke Parker, a dietitian at the Student Health and Wellness Center, said women at Utah State University are at an equal amount of risk as their peers nationwide, and said there are many factors that put college females at a greater rate of eating disorders.
“I feel the most common are a stressful environment, a need to fit in, comparing with roommates and other females on campus, freedom from parents, a need to experiment and poor body images,” Parker said.
Up to 4 percent of all college-aged women are affected by bulimia nervosa, according to SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions.
The Center for Counseling and Health Resources characterizes anorexia with self-starvation and extreme weight loss, according to the center’s Web site, www.aplaceofhope.com.
Those battling bulimia have a cycle of eating large amounts and then secretly getting rid of the food by vomiting, laxative abuse or over-exercising, according to the site.
The site also reports that binge disorder, or compulsive over-eating, is characterized by periods of uncontrollable and impulsive eating past the point of feeling full.
Christy Heitger-Casbon is one example of a young woman who has suffered from an eating disorder.
“I want to learn the caloric content in everything. I wonder how many calories are in a postage stamp. Do vitamins have calories? I know a stick of gum has 10 calories, but if I were to chew gum instead of eating lunch, I’d come out way ahead,” she wrote in her journal, May 1986.
Casbon was 12 years old when she began her battle with anorexia nervosa. Casbon later published parts of her diary in the January/February 2000 issue of Campus Life magazine to help others battling the disease.
Casbon said she dropped down to 72 pounds and was finally admitted into a hospital to insure her enough nutrients so that the major organs in her body would not fail. Casbon received the help she needed and today said she is thankful for a second chance at life.
The Center for Counseling and Health Resources defines eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder as including “extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.”
The USU Counseling Center reported that in the years 2001-02 and 2002-03, 7 percent of all clients came in because of eating disorders. However, this number could be under-inflated because many clients come in for other problems and then bring up their eating disorders later on, Counseling Center staff assistant Maren Seamons said.
Parker said that it is likely that many cases of eating disorders at USU go undetected, calling it a “silent disease.” Many females on campus are struggling with eating disorder behaviors or beliefs, but don’t get help, she said.
Getting help can be the difference between life and death, she said.
The Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders INC, ANRED, reports that without treatment up to 20 percent of those with serious eating disorders die.
With treatment, that percentage goes down to between 2 to 3 percent.
Although USU doesn’t have many programs specifically about eating disorders, there are sources for help, Parker said. Parker is a dietitian at the Student Health and Wellness Center and can help students with food and health issues.
There are also physicians available to help with any physical damage that has occurred.
The Counseling Center in the Taggart Student Center also offers emotional help and support. All services are confidential, Parker said.
Those wanting more information may also visit USU’s Eating Disorders Help Page (www.foodservices.usu.edu/operations/fs_junction/nutrition/eating_disorders/index.cfm) or may pick up related literature at the Health Center or Counseling Center.
If someone is suffering with an eating disorder, non-judgmental support from friends to help search for professional help for the individual is important, Parker said.
In many cases the person may need professional help, she said. Focusing on inward abilities instead of outward appearances would also be helpful, Parker said.
-hilaryi@cc.usu.edu