Anorexia nervosa is the deadliest disease a female aged 15 to 24 can have, according to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH). Celebrate EveryBODY Week meets that threat with a positive message.
Guest speaker Lee Wolfe Blum, a University of Kansas alumnus and anorexia survivor, will deliver a portion of that message as part of a series of events throughout the week educating students about eating disorders and promoting healthy body image. Other events this week will feature discounted food and giveaways of bottled water and T-shirts.
Celebrate EveryBODY Week coincides with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDA), which campus organizers Student Health Services and the H.O.M.E.B.A.S.E. task force have adapted to address topics including body acceptance, healthy eating and physical activity. Notes and posters posted around campus will spread positive messages about body image beginning Monday.
Ann Chapman, coordinator of nutritional services at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said more needed to be done to educate students about how to appreciate the bodies they are given, especially when the media promoted unrealistic messages about how people should look.
“Everywhere you look, the epitome of beauty is a woman who is five-ten, too thin and has breast implants,” Chapman said. “Three or four percent of women have that body type.”
The NEDA reports that 80 percent of women are dissatisfied with their appearances.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director at the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center, said students who don’t feel good about themselves are less likely to be successful academically or in their personal development.
Chapman said that she had counseled many students who were unhappy with their bodies.
“We know there’s a higher incidence of eating disorders on college campuses for a variety of reasons,” Chapman said.
The average age of onset for anorexia is 19 and for bulimia the average age is 20, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The NIMH reports that the mortality rate among people with anorexia is about 12 times higher than the death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population.
Blum, a health educator at Park Nicollet Eating Disorders Institute in Minnesota, will give talks at Budig Hall and the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Blum said her talks at Budig Hall would discuss the nature of eating disorders, how to identify them and how people can recover. Her discussion in the ballroom will focus on the story of her personal struggle with, and recovery from, an eating disorder.
“The essence of most of my talks is just hope,” Blum said.
Students can receive free bottled water and T-shirts at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. as part of Celebrate Activity Day. On Thursday, Better Bites snacks and entrées, available in all KU Dining facilities across campus, will be offered at a discount for lunch.
To learn more about eating disorders, students can visit the Emily Taylor Resource Center, Student Health Services or Counseling and Psychological Services.