Are Your Eating Habits Healthy? Find out
at Tri-County's Eating Disorders Screening
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/22/2006
CONTACT: DANA LEIGHTON, 646-1387
(By Lisa Garrett)
PENDLETON --- Are you dissatisfied with your body or have an intense
fear of gaining weight? Do you over-exercise, restrict calories or think
about food all the time? Do you avoid eating around other people, or
feel that food has a power over you so that you can’t stop eating even
when you are full?
If you are concerned about your eating habits, or those of a friend,
you may find it helpful to talk to counselors March 1 when Tri-County
Technical College will hold anonymous screenings for eating disorders.
In addition, information on how to stop letting food, weight and calories
control your life will be available. The event, which is open to the
public, will be held in the College’s Student Center, from 11 a.m. -
2 p.m. and 5 - 7 p.m. Students in the College's Abnormal Psychology
class will produce the event as a service learning project.
Colleges across the country are offering this education and screening
program as part of the National Eating Disorders Screening Program (NEDSP),
sponsored by the national non-profit Screening For Mental Health. NEDSP
is being held at colleges nationwide in conjunction with Eating Disorders
Awareness Week, February 26 - March 4.
The event includes an educational media presentation, an opportunity
to complete a written self-assessment and an opportunity to talk privately
with a health professional about screening results. If appropriate,
students may be referred to the counseling center for a complete evaluation.
Participants will be entered into a drawing for prizes generously donated
by local businesses in support of the event.
“Adjusting to college life can be difficult for many and the desire
to fit in can make students susceptible to eating disorders like anorexia,
bulimia and compulsive overeating. Ninety-five percent of people with
eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25 and the majority
of those who have an eating disorder don’t seek treatment, often as
a result of shame or social stigma. The goal of the screening event
is to reduce the stigma attached to eating disorders and let students
know that help is available,” says Katherine Cruise, communications
manager for Screening for Mental Health, the non-profit organization
that sponsors the National Eating Disorders Screening Program.
Counselors emphasize that even those who do not have a diagnosable
eating disorder can benefit from this program. Food concerns, body dissatisfaction
and low self-esteem can keep a student from achieving at school or sports
and hinders social activities like dating or being with friends. This
program offers education and screening to help students stop unhealthy
eating habits before they evolve into full-blown eating disorders.
For more information, visit www.mentalhealthscreening.org.
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Oconee