Universities and communities across the country are coming together this week to recognize the 21st annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This time is set aside by the National Eating Disorder Association to highlight the fact that body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors, and fighting your “natural size” can lead to unhealthy practices. It is important that students take this time to carefully evaluate all the options available on campus for maintaining a vivacious lifestyle.
Student Health Services provides specific resources to help educate individuals about proper eating habits. It has a plethora of information on its Web site and also offers individual counseling sessions with a registered dietitian. Although obesity is a problem for residents of North Carolina, instead of resorting to drastic measures, it is crucial that students instead take advantage of the University’s built-in support networks to prevent health risk when dieting. Losing weight can only be beneficial if it is done carefully and healthfully.
Getting regular exercise is an essential part of maintaining a wholesome lifestyle. To help students in this area, Student Health Services partners with Campus Recreation to encourage fitness plans for all students. With the addition of the new Carmichael Recreation Center, students have countless options within the University facilities. Students should be sure to utilize both the new and old areas of the Carmichael complex and also take advantage of fitness classes ranging from yoga to aerobics.
Perhaps the most important message of NEDAW is that it is possible to prevent all eating disorders. These dietary habits arise from a variety of physical, emotional, social and familial issues that can be identified and treated. NEDAW warns, however, prevention methods will fail unless they effectively address cultural obsessions with slenderness and promote development of people self-esteem and self respect in a variety of areas.
The Counseling Center offers extensive online resources for treating eating disorders and also is a good place to seek individual counseling or advice. The Center not only provides resources that help identify symptoms of eating disorders, it provides individuals with treatment options. Students can contact professionals directly via phone or the Internet and get recommendations regarding their specific circumstances.
