Eating Disorder Hope College - Club, Blog, Resources, Speakers and Treatment on College and University Campuses
Phase I ~ College Hope for Eating Disorders: Expanding Awareness of University Resources
Get creative ideas to build a successful resource center and/or National Eating Disorder Awareness Week on your campus!
- College Hope is a national collegiate effort to promote Eating Disorder Awareness and Recovery on college campuses. In an effort to share ideas between schools and provide easily accessible resources for eating disorder treatment and info, we are gathering resources and counseling center info from different schools to publish here for students seeking help.
- Please share your school's eating disorder resource information with us at College Hope Submissions
- We will publish all School resources on this page as a service to the college community. (submitted information subject to approval before publishing).
Phase II ~ Eating Disorder Hope College Blog and Club: Accepting Charter Members Now!
The College Eating Disorder Hope Club and Blog is specifically for college students and staff interested in eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. This is a pro recovery blog that offers discussion of recovery tools, resources, eating disorder treatment options and events for college students seeking recovery.
Follow the College Hope Blog and stay informed and motivated to recover!
Join the Eating Disorder Hope College Club and become a charter member of this expanding movement to bring information and resources to those suffering from eating disorders to university and college campuses globally.
The F.R.E.E.D. Speaking Tour 2010-2011!
On The F.R.E.E.D. Speaking Tour, Kathleen MacDonald shares her empowering story of overcoming a 16 year long battle with disordered eating, bulimia, anorexia, exercise bulimia, and body dislike. Her presentation offers an intimate look into the journey of recovering from these issues without glamorizing the horrendous efforts that she and so many others undertake in an attempt to achieve the “perfect body”.
Kathleen speaks practically, to dispel the oftentimes enigmatic perceptions of “eating disorders” and addresses the societal complacency of dieting and body dislike that ravages the lives of so many women and men on college campuses nationwide. She delivers a message of hope that it IS possible to truly love your body, as well as a message of urgency for a call to action to address eating and body image disorders at all levels of severity. Countless people have shared that as a result of hearing Kathleen’s story they have uncovered courage to seek help and healing from their own battles of body image and disordered eating issues. Kathleen’s presentations also address: media influence on bodies and self-esteem, signs and symptoms of eating and body image issues, exercise abuse, ways to help a friend or loved one who might be suffering, how to get help, eating disorder activism, and more.
To book F.R.E.E.D. at your school, or to learn more about the presentations: please call: 202.203.0999
or email: kathleen@freedfoundation.org
What are people saying about Kathleen's presentations?
“…I had the honor and pleasure of speaking with Kathleen at a Congressional Briefing in April, 2008. I wish that every patient I have ever treated, every family member, and every clinician who works with eating disorders could hear her speak. Her disarming honesty unveils the lengths to which the anxiety associated with anorexia nervosa can drive someone to deceive themselves and the ones they love. Her honesty, compassion, and humor demystify eating disorders. She helps us understand and be less fearful of a disorder that we know can take lives. When she spoke at the briefing, I cried, not because of the sadness of her story, but out of joy that she was alive to help others discover the path to life that she had found…” –Cynthia M. Bulik, PhD, FAED, Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders, Director, University of North Carolina Eating Disorders Program, Past-President, Academy for Eating Disorders, Vice-President, Eating Disorders Coalition
“…Kathleen does a wonderful, deeply personal and revealing presentation –using a most appropriate, non-glamorizing approach. She really reaches people and she is such an example of recovery and of the healing role of activism- absolutely inspirational. While her message reaches anyone, she is so clear about how her eating disorder affected her college experience; it is especially poignant for students to hear. The clear message is that people can get better and find themselves, despite the power of the illness in their lives. I consider her a trusted friend as well as a remarkable resource for our field. I would encourage your students/administration to try their hardest to get Kathleen to your campus…” –Margo Maine, Ph.D. FAED; Author of: Effective Clinical Treatment of Eating Disorders: The Heart of the Matter; The Body Myth: Adult Women and the Pressure to Be Perfect; Father Hunger: Fathers, Daughters, and the Pursuit of Thinness; Body Wars: Making Peace with Women's Bodies
“…from my point of view, and I think what is truly most helpful and was so powerful, was when you explained the games, the self deception etc. Being completely recovered is a whole different ball game and I felt your discussion of what that really means, and the process you had to go through to get there is the important take away message…” –Amy Dennis, Ph.D., Board of Directors, National Eating Disorders Association
__________________________________________________________
The F.R.E.E.D. Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating eating disorders.
The F.R.E.E.D. Foundation Mission Is:
- To provide individuals the financial support needed for the treatment of eating disorders.
- To provide public awareness and educational resources about the serious detriment of eating disorders.
- To advocate for the acknowledgment and acceptance of eating disorders as a serious and urgent disease.
Directory of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week School Events:
California State University ~ Long Beach
Brotman Hall, Room 226
(562) 985-4001
Fax: (562) 985-8817
Office Hours :8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Monday - Feb 22, 2010:
Be comfortable in your Genes Day: We have been gathering jeans donations for about three months now. We will be hosting decorating parties before the event for people to decorate jeans with positive affirmations. At the event, we will hang the jeans from clotheslines in our campus quad and have information about eating disorders available. After the event, we will donate jeans to the goodwill.
Tuesday - Feb 23, 2010:
HeadSTRONG Resource Fair: We are inviting local community/campus partners to our campus and hosting a "health fair." We will be having a raffle, free gifts, student performances and free mental health screenings.
Documentary Screening: We are showing Beauty Mark: The Race for Perfection. After the showing, we will be having a short Q & A with a professional therapist.
Wednesday - Feb 24, 2010:
5 Minutes to Confidence Workshop: We are giving a short demonstration on how to do hair/makeup in 5 minutes to increase confidence levels.
Stress Management: We are having professional psychologists come in and talk about how to manage stress in your everyday life.
Eating Mindfully: We are having a professional nutritionist come give instruction to how to eat Mindfully.
Thursday - Feb 25, 2010:
Smashing of the Scales: We are inviting students to smash donated scales with a sledgehammer. We are providing information about eating disorders at the event.
Patrick Bergstrom Speaking: We are having Eating Disorder Activist Patrick Bergstrom speak about his experience with an ED and how he beat it.
For more information, contact: Katie Gaston, Vice-President and Co-Founder @ HeadSTRONG, (530)515-1935 or kgaston@csulb.edu
Towson University Counseling Center ~ Maryland
Towson University Counseling Center, Glen Esk
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252
410-704-2512; (F) 410-704-3453
Contact: Jaime M. Fenton, Ph.D. jfenton@towson.edu
Psychologist; Coordinator of Eating Disorder Services
Website
2010 NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK
Great Jeans Give Away
Donate those out of style jeans February 1 - 26, 2010 at the Counseling Center, Center for Student Diversity and National Eating Disorders Awareness Week events. Donations are open to faculty, staff and students. Students will be entered into a raffle for prizes. Jeans will be donated to local shelters. Sponsored by American Visionary Arts Museum, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, Ladew Gardens, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra & Trader Joes.
I Chose to Live: An Athlete’s Recovery
Thursday, February 18 7-8:30pm UU 208 Potomac Lounge
Collegiate lacrosse player Patrick Bergstrom was sidelined by an eating disorder that almost took his life. He “chose to live” and now speaks nationally to college students, dispelling the myth that eating disorders only affect women. Come be inspired by this athlete’s message of hope. Sponsored by the Eating Disorders Outreach Committee.
B’More Aware Trivia
Monday, February 22 12-1pm Second Floor of Union
Tuesday, February 23 12-1pm Newell Dining Hall
Think that you know everything there is to know about food, exercise, and eating disorders? Test your knowledge and win free prizes including T-shirts, snacks and buttons! Sponsored by the Eating Disorders Outreach Committee.
Intuitive Eating: Nutrition for Life
Mondays, February 22, March 1, March 8 from 2:30pm – 4pm UU307
It is difficult to have a positive relationship with food-many people engage in emotional eating or dieting to reach body image goals. This workshop series will provide participants with tools to develop a more flexible approach to eating and body image. Please plan to attend every workshop because new material will be presented each week. Women and men of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to attend. Sponsored by the Counseling Center.
Body Image and Relationships
Wednesday, February 24 3-4pm UU 307
Does how you view body affect your close relationships? The media leads us to believe that we must look a certain way to be beautiful and accepted inlcuding messages that we must behave and look certain ways based on our gender and sexuality. But is this accurate? This workshop includes interactive activities, helping participants learn ways to improve body image, and question myths our society holds about beauty. Sponsored by the Counseling Center.
Do I Look Fat? A documentary on gay men, body image, and eating disorders
Thursday, February 25 5-7:30pm UU317
This critically acclaimed documentary offers proof that eating disorders and body image issues don’t discriminate. This movie explores the pressures facing gay men to fit the twink ideal, negatively impacting self esteem, body image and relationships. Students, faculty and staff of diverse gender and sexual identities are welcome. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Sponsored by the LGBT Student Development Center, Queer Student Union and Counseling Center.
Eating Disorders Network of Maryland NEDAW Event
Sunday, March 7 2-4pm UU 207
This event spotlights speakers Amy Chevese the Binge Eating Disorder Association and Amy Pershing of Bodywise giving a talk entitled “From shame to recovery: Personal and clinical perspectives on eating disorders and the weight continuum.” Sponsored by EDN of Maryland, TU Counseling Center, and ANAD of Baltimore.
Utah State University ~ Utah
Counseling Center
0115 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-0115
435.797.1012
www.usu.edu/counseling
Utah State University has services available for students with disordered eating concerns:
REACH Peers from the Counseling Center offer a "BODY FAIR" in conjunction with Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The Body Fair focuses on body acceptance, balanced lifestyles, and body appreciation. These fairs typically include a keynote speaker (often a recovery panel); a massage booth; nutritionist booth (usually aimed at food appreciation & mindful eating); yoga mini-classes; self-assessments & referral sources; roving therapists who look for opportunities to interact, educate, consult, etc.; posters and extensive literature about introducing healthy, balanced eating styles (NO DIETS), developing body acceptance & appreciation, and how to help yourself or a friend with an eating disorder.
Available throughout the year are:
- MEDICAL and NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENTS and CONSULTATION through the Student Health and Wellness Center (435.797.1660)
- PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING (individual or group) through the Counseling Center (435.797.1012) with therapists who are trained and experienced in working with those who struggle with eating disorders and disordered eating/negative body image. (Services are free of charge to students on the Logan Campus who are enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours.
- EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS regarding body image and/or eating disorders, on request, for students, faculty, staff, and community members (contact the Counseling Center 435.797.1012).
University of Utah ~ Utah
Students Promoting Eating Disorder Awareness and Knowledge {SPEAK} SPEAK is a group of diverse students from many different educational backgrounds such as exercise and sport science, public health, nutrition, and sport psychology, psychology, and health promotion and education.
Our Goals & Objectives include:
- Promote self-esteem
- Promote self-efficacy
- Promote healthy body images
- Promote healthy eating habits
Our Mission: To promote awareness of eating disorders and body image issues through educating diverse populations, developing strategies for prevention, providing resources for treatment, and conducting relevant research. Schedule an outreach with SPEAK: SPEAK would be happy to prepare an outreach event specifically designed to address your interests. Outreach events may include a presentation, interactive discussion, or educational activities. Possible topics include but are not limited to: positive body image, prevention and treatment of eating disorders, healthy eating habits, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.
To schedule an outreach, simply email our Outreach Director with the details and we'll contact you.
Mailing Address:
Attn: SPEAK
1901 E. South Campus Drive, Rm 2135
SLC, UT 84112
SPEAK Webmaster (Justine.Reel@hsc.utah.edu) Disclaimer
Contact: Justine Reel, Ph.D. SPEAK Outreach Director: Justine.Reel@hsc.utah.edu
The College of William and Mary ~ Virginia
Collegiate Awareness Regarding Eating Smart {CARES} is a Task Force created by campus professionals in response to concern about the well-being of members of the William and Mary Community.
The collaborative efforts of this multidisciplinary team are to:
- Raise awareness about eating disorders.
- Educate the campus community about eating issues.
- Identify individuals who may be in need of assistance with eating issues.
- Provide intervention assistance and assessment services.
- Support individuals in treatment and recovery services.
- Promote the development of an empowering body image and healthy lifestyle.
CARES Team members are available for consultation, training, and programming on eating disorders, body image, and related issues. The following programs, presentation and events are offered by the CARES Team:
- How to Help a Friend With Eating and Body Image Issues
- A Close Look at Eating Disorders (student panel presentation)
- What I Like About Me (body image)
- Love Your Body Week 2009: "Every BODY is Beautiful", including these events:
- Wednesday, March 25th "Walk With the President", 7AM - Wren side of the Brafferton Join President Reveley for a morning fitness walk. (Free T-shirts for the first 50 participants and mugs for the first 100 participants and FREE hot beverages from the Daily Grind for ALL walkers).
- Monday, March 30th "W&M Student Panel on Eating Disorders", 8PM - Sadler Center, York Room Come hear William and Mary students who have been affected by eating disorders share their stories of hope and triumph. * A qualified counselor will be available after the panel. *
- Tuesday, March 31st "Body Fair", 4PM – 6PM - Sadler Center Terrace. Rain Location: SC, Chesapeake B and C Freebies! Massages! Healthy Cooking Demo and free food provided by Dining Services! Various campus and community groups will have tables set up with lots of information designed to help you take care of yourself! *A qualified counselor will be available during the Body Fair.*
- Wednesday, April 1st "5th Annual 'Celebrating Our Bodies’ Dance Showcase", 7PM- SC, Commonwealth Auditorium This night is about honoring our bodies for what they can do and not for what they look like on the outside. Performances from campus dance groups such as the Tribal Dancers, Swing Dance Club, Ballroom Dance Club, Beledi Club, FASA, Rhythm and Taps, Bhangra, Bboy Club, the W&M Heritage Dancers, Syndicate, Spotlight and the Rec Sports Fitness Demo Team. Donations to the National Eating Disorder Awareness Organization accepted at the door. All those who give donations are eligible for door prizes! The Dance Group that has the most fans attend will be awarded $100.
- Thursday, April 2nd "Declaring Independence from Eating Disorders: A Personal Journey" 7PM, Small Hall Room 113 Presented by Jenni Schaefer, nationally known singer/songwriter, speaker, and author of Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Change, a place of hope and healing that is committed to helping women and adolescent girls break free and fully recover from their eating disorders. Book Signing immediately after the presentation at 8PM. *A qualified counselor will be available after the presentation.*
- Friday, April 3rd Free Breakfast in the Sadler Center Lobby, 9-11AM Get a healthy start to your day by stopping by the CARES Table to get free breakfast donated by local sponsors. All Week Educational Information Stop by our Cares table in the Sadler Center all week and look for information about eating disorders in the Rec Center and in the dining halls. Healthy Eating Screenings Talk with a qualified counselor about what to do if you or a friend is struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating. Wed, April 1st from 12-2pm and Thurs, April 2nd from 12-2pm in the Sadler Center, York Room. Additional days and times are noted by the astrix* on the schedule. C A Sponsored by W&M C.A.R.E.S., Collegiate Awareness Regarding Eating Smart. For information please call the CARES Team at 221-3313 or stop by the Student CARES info table in the SC Lobby all week!
Contact: Fisher, Jenny, Asst. Director, Recreational Sports; CARES Chairperson: jvrueh@wm.edu
Stanford University ~ California
Mirror – A Resource for Those Concerned with Disordered Eating at Stanford University Located within the Bridge Peer Counseling Center – First floor of the Rogers House:
581 Capistrano Way
Stanford, CA 94305
Contact: Daisy Morin daisymorin@gmail.com or mirrorhelp@yahoo.com
Stanford Tips: "Mirror is a student group at Stanford U aimed at providing resources about eating disorders. Last year, Mirror put together a series of events that included a campus-wide workshop on how to help a friend struggling with disordered eating, a film screening ("Thin"), and office hours for people to come with questions. We also put out a banner and a table in White Plaza, a central part of our campus where lots of people would see it and could come up and ask questions during lunch time. I'm attaching the flyer we made in case it's helpful. This year we're hoping to do some other things as well, including handing out free "I love my body" pins (trying to have a positive message) and working with the ED team at the Counseling and Psychological Services of our campus health center." – Comments by Ms. Daisy Morin of Mirror, Stanford University
ALL WEEK - MIRROR IN WHITE PLAZA
Information about disordered eating, how to help a friend, and Stanford resources available in White Plaza. Stop by, pick up a flyer, and ask us questions! 12-1 PM, WHITE PLAZA
MONDAY, February 25 - HOW TO HELP A FRIEND
A workshop that will prepare you to help someone you know who may be struggling with disordered eating. Learn about the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, how to approach a friend you think may have a problem, and resources on campus. 7-8 PM, EDUC 114
WEDNESDAY, February 27 - THIN
A documentary film that goes inside the Renfrew Center, a treatment facility in Florida, and follows the stories of four women there struggling to overcome anorexia. Directed by Lauren Greenfield and previously shown on HBO and at the United Nations Film Festival. 8-9:30 PM, BLDG 200-013
THURSDAY, February 28 - MIRROR OFFICE HOURS
Mirror counselors will be available to answer questions and spout general information about eating disorders and how to help a friend. Come visit us! 7-9 PM, THE BRIDGE
MIRROR is a student organization that provides resources to those concerned about disordered eating at Stanford. Please visit our website at www.stanford.edu/group/bridge/mirror, and email us at mirrorhelp@yahoo.comto ask questions, schedule a workshop or appointment with a Mirror counselor, or to get involved.
Washington University in Saint Louis ~ Missouri
Contact info for Reflections: washureflections@yahoo.com
Reflection Contacts: Christine Ding and Emily Aisenbrey, Co-presidents
Washington University Reflections Tips & Events: My name is Christine Ding and I am co-president (with Emily Aisenbrey) of Reflections at Washington University in St. Louis. I am so excited to tell you about Reflections' past, current, and future programming. Reflections is a peer education group that is dedicated to preventing and raising awareness of eating disorders on campus as well as in the greater St. Louis community.
Reflections has hosted several very successful Eating Disorders Awareness Weeks (EDAW) in the past, although they don't always coincide with the National EDAW dates due to scheduling conflicts. In 2007, we invited Lauren Greenfield (director of the documentary "Thin") to speak, as part of our school's Assembly Series program, about her work with eating disorders, treatment, and the influence of media on the culture of beauty. Following the screening of the film "Thin" we also hosted a panel of experts in the field as well as recovering patients to speak about their experiences with eating disorders and to answer the audience's questions. We received an enormously positive and enthusiastic response from the campus and the St. Louis community at both the lecture and the film screening.
In 2008, we invited Professor Susan Bordo of the University of Kentucky to speak on campus during EDAW about the media's influence on body image and the homogenization of beauty, specifically in America. She is the author of "Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body" (U. of California Press, 1993) and most recently, has appeared in several documentaries about how popular culture has changed our concepts of physical ideals.
In addition to bringing in speakers for each EDAW, we also offer a variety of free events and activities to the WashU community that encourage positive body image and the development of healthy living habits. In the past, we have hosted a Nutrition Talk with Connie Diekman, the university's head dietitian, as well as yoga and Nia (http://www.nianow.com/nia-education/overview) classes and film screenings.
For this year's EDAW, Reflections will be hosting "The Thin Line," a one-woman play about eating disorders, designed to help audience members to recognize the signs of EDs as well as ways to prevent them (http://www.addverbproductions.com/programs_ttl.php). This performance will be followed by a panel discussion led by Dr. Kim McCallum of McCallum Place in St. Louis, Professor Rebecca Lester, as well as members of the university's eating disorders treatment team.
On February 4, 2009, Reflections will be joining Annie Seal, Professor Lester, and State Representative Rachel Storch (of Missouri) in Jefferson City to introduce "eating disorder legislation that will fortify the existing Missouri Mental Health Parity Act and require insurance companies to provide coverage for those suffering from eating disorders," to quote Ms. Seal. As a follow-up to this advocacy day, we are participating in an ED walk in April, open to the entire St. Louis community, in order to raise awareness of eating disorders and the many social and political issues surrounding their treatment.
In terms of advertisement and publicity, Reflections is fortunate to have the support of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department as well as the Anthropology department in promoting our events to the campus community. We also reach students through our facebook group (www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2200281071) and event invitations.
In the past two years, one of our most effective and eye-catching advertising strategies for EDAW has been our "Love Your Body" posters, in which members of the student body volunteer to pose in the buff while holding a heart-shaped sign that says "Love Your Body!" (Please see photos uploaded to our facebook group for examples from previous years.) With these posters, we aim to encourage positive body image in the community by showing that there is no single standard of what is beautiful and that each body is beautiful not because of what it looks like, but because of what it allows an individual to accomplish (ex: play soccer, climb trees, etc.).
Additionally, Reflections holds unofficial Love Your Body Days on campus, during which we give away healthy snacks (granola and dried fruit) and not-so-healthy snacks (candy) to students throughout the day. We also sell our trademark hot pink or teal Love Your Body t-shirts to further spread our message. Each semester, we also host several freshman floor talks on eating disorders not only to raise awareness, but also to provide students with the knowledge and resources to get help. Similarly, we give presentations to sorority chapters on campus on a variety of ED-related topics, such as how to help a friend with an eating disorder.
I hope that this email will be useful to you, the National Eating Disorders Hope organization, and to others looking for programming or advertisement ideas. Please email me if you have any questions or would like further information.
Sincerely,
Christine Ding
Texas Christian University ~ Texas
Contact: Eric Wood, Ph. D. e.c.wood@tcu.edu
Website
Brown-Lupton Health Center (West Entrance)
2825 Stadium Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76129
PHONE: 817-257-7863
FAX: 817-257-7320
HOURS: Monday – Friday 8 -5PM ~ Appointments are scheduled from 8:30- 4:30PM
TCU Tips: "I agree about the eating disorder screenings in person. Students tended to shy away from that last year and our online screening was more successful. We are not even promoting in person screenings this year. I would also say that students are more receptive if you promote the week as exploring body image concerns on campus. For us, this appeals to more students and obviously opens the door to discussing eating disorders. Likewise, I would suggest incorporating positive health messages, such as how to exercise right and stress management. Our event at the REC Center last year was a big success regarding this. Likewise, I would include academic departments in the planning/marketing. Departments such as dance, women studies, psychology, and social work were all interested in our Awareness Week, and helped generate ideas and promotion." – Comments by Dr. Eric Wood of TCU
TCU 2010 Events:
Monday March 1st: Faculty/Staff training on Orthorexia: Exploring the obsessions for health foods
Tuesday March 2nd: “Taste of TCU”. We’re inviting local food vendors on campus to show that all foods are good
Wednesday, March 3rd. Student Leader Training. Dr. Lara Pence from the Renfrew Center will conduct a training on coping when a loved one as an eating disorder
Thursday, March 4th: FYBSW Student Activities Fairs: Various departments from our Health and Wellness Team will create booths regarding positive health.
TCU 2009 Events:
MONDAY: JAN 26 - "Be a Friend toYour Body Day"REC Center: 4-6 pm,Free Massages, Free Consultation with a Trainer, "How to Eat Healthy in the Union", Free Bio-feedback
TUESDAY: JAN 27 - "T’ai Chi the Commons": Free ORSL Meditation in Jarvis Hall- 10AM, Free T’ai Chi demo, on the Commons-12PM
WEDNESDAY: JAN 28 - "Town Hall Meeting", Faculty/Staff T’ai Chi Demo- East Campus @ 12PM, BLUU Aud. -7PM "The Good Body". Panel Discussion on Body Image and TCU
THURSDAY: JAN 29 - "Community Resource Day"; BLUU Ballroom @ 12PM, A key note address by Remuda Ranch.
Facts About Eating Disorders
General:
- Almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression.
- Only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35% of people that receive treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a specialized facility for eating disorders. 2
- Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S. 3
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. 4
Students:
- 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting. 22% dieted "often" or "always." 5
- 86% report onset of eating disorder by age 20; 43% report onset between ages of 16 and 20. 6
- Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. 7
- 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. 8
- 25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight-management technique. 3
- The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for females 15-24 years old.4
Men
- An estimated 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male. 9
- Men are less likely to seek treatment for eating disorders because of the perception that they are "woman's diseases." 10
- Among gay men, nearly 14% appeared to suffer from bulimia and over 20% appeared to be anorexic. 11
Media, Perception, Dieting
- 95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight within 5 years. 3
- 35% of "normal dieters" progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders. 5
- The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females. 3
- 47% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures. 12
- 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape. 13
- 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991).
- 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991).
- Collins, M.E. (1991). Body figure perceptions and preferences among pre-adolescent children. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 199-208.
- Mellin, L., McNutt, S., Hu, Y., Schreiber, G.B., Crawford, P., & Obarzanek, E. (1991). A longitudinal study of the dietary practices of black and white girls 9 and 10 years old at enrollment: The NHLBI growth and health study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27-37.
For Women
- Women are much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated five to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male. 14
- An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of women suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. 14
- Research suggests that about 1 percent of female adolescents have anorexia.15 * An estimated 1.1 to 4.2 percent of women have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime. 14
- An estimated 2 to 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period. 14
- About 50 percent of people who have had anorexia develop bulimia or bulimic patterns.
Sources:
- Mortality in Anorexia Nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1995; 152 (7): 1073-4.
- Characteristics and Treatment of Patients with Chronic Eating Disorders, by Dr. Greta Noordenbox, International Journal of Eating Disorders, Volume 10: 15-29, 2002.
- The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, "Eating Disorders 101 Guide: A Summary of Issues, Statistics and Resources," 2003.
- American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 152 (7), July 1995, p. 1073-1074, Sullivan, Patrick F.
- Shisslak, C.M., Crago, M., & Estes, L.S. (1995). The Spectrum of Eating Disturbances. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 18 (3): 209-219.
- National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders 10-year study, 2000.
- Public Health Service's Office in Women's Health, Eating Disorders Information Sheet, 2000.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), offices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Carlat, D.J., Camargo. Review of Bulimia Nervosa in Males. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 1997.
- American Psychological Association, 2001.
- International Journal of Eating Disorders 2002; 31: 300-308.
- Prevention of Eating Problems with Elementary Children, Michael Levine, USA Today, July 1998.
- Ibid.
- The National Institute of Mental Health: "Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions." Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002.
- Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. website. Accessed Feb. 2002.