Student Health Services recently held an eating disorders fair in the Hall of Flags to provide students with a broad understanding of the risks and hazards associated with poor nutrition habits, misuse of drugs, steroids and other potentially dangerous habits and stimulants.
Statistics on display showed a drastically high level of risk in today’s society and cautioned individuals who suffer from illnesses such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, obesity, steroid use and disfigurement of the body.
Several of these illnesses are strongly linked to low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy or not fitting in, or simply just a desire to “look different” taken with the wrong type of approach.
Anorexia and bulimia were at the top of the list of potentially lethal illnesses. Anorexia affects the mind in a way that individuals develop a mistaken belief that they are “too overweight” and develop a compulsive need to control their weight. As a result, they starve themselves to the point of severe emaciation.
Bulimia is closely linked and is often associated with anorexia. Most bulimics will have a binge diet, in which they eat, sometimes mass quantities of food and then purge their stomach contents by self-induced vomiting.
These patterns can continue until they kill the person. Clinical therapy is often a solution to problems like these. Therapy helps individuals to recognize the error in their thinking and to learn to accept themselves without the slow, painful death.
A variety of brochures were also offered to students to voice warning as well as supply guidelines on how to take better care for themselves and how to seek help when it is needed.
For more information, contact Student Heath Services at 863-8876.
