Counseling Center Prepares for “Eating Awareness Week.” The Counseling Center’s calendar seems to be wrought with things to do year after year. This time around it’s no different as they prepare for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week starting next Monday and lasting throughout the week.
Cynthia Bryant, the assistant director of the counseling center has prepared well for this upcoming week because students are often unaware of the dangers associated with eating disorders. In fact, a substantial portion of students who are affected by these disorders, whether directly or indirectly, are oblivious to what’s actually happening.
If someone feels they may have a problem or someone they know has a problem they can check out the counseling centers free eating disorder screening. It’s sponsored by the Counseling Center, and may be taken on-line or at the Center’s main office in the University Center. “If a person is thinking ‘I may have an eating disorder’ they may want to check out these screenings,” said Bryant. To find the on-line screening go to www.tntech.edu/counsel/online_screening.htm
The two most common form of eating disorders are bulimia and anorexia. The first one is characterized by binge eating followed by a period of purging. The second, and probably the easiest to check, is eating very small amounts and sometimes none at all for an extended period of time. “Making yourself skinny isn’t the only disorder,” said Bryant, besides these eating disorders which are characterized by a lack of nutrition there is also a disorder of “overeating” where someone consumes massive amounts of food all the time. This, along with numerous other topics, will be discussed at next weeks seminar held in the Tech Pride room on Tuesday at 11am with guest speaker Dr. Melina Anderson, assistant professor of human ecology.
On top of everything, there will also be tables set up at the fitness center, TTU health services and the TTU Women’s Center. Each table will have information and ways that one could find help for eating disorders.
If someone needs help they should stop by the Counseling Center’s office on the top for of the University Center.
