Come As You Are, Not How You Think You Should Be.
In today’s society, we are bombarded with pressure to look a certain way. Social media, movies, and pop culture idealize certain body types and send the message that you are lesser if you do not fit their mold. This message is constant and has detrimental effects on many peoples physical and mental health.
Millions of Americans suffer from negative body image issues, they do not like what they see in the mirror because of the culture we live in. This can contribute to body dysphoria, disordered eating, excess exercise, and eating disorders. Some of these may seem “normal,” however we live in an abnormal culture. Obsessing about what you look like, what you eat, how much you eat, and how often you work out are toxic traits we have come to normalize. Individuals can develop habits that may seem healthy but are actually controlling their life in a negative, unhealthy way. Many people do not realize the full extent their diet and exercise habits have on their life. Effects of both good and bad habits can follow you throughout life, which is why early intervention for eating disorders is key for recovery.
Today 20 million women and 10 million men in the U.S. will struggle with an eating disorder at some point during their life. It is important to know that eating disorders do not discriminate, they can affect a person of any weight, age, race, sex, or gender. Eating disorders are a serious mental and physical illness that needs to be addressed.
Every year at the University of Idaho we celebrate National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. This week, Feb. 25 through March 1, is NEDA and the theme is Come As You Are. There are many events on campus for the community to learn about eating disorders, as well as body image issues. Still to come are free eating disorder screenings on Thursday, February 28th from 10:30-2:30 in the Commons, as well as on Wednesday, March 6 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Hub.
If you are struggling with body image issues or an eating disorder do not hesitate to reach out for help. On campus, the Counseling and Testing Center is free for students and even has a 24-hour hotline you can call to speak with a counselor. The CTC is located on the third floor of Mary E. Forney Hall and can be reached at (208)-885-6716. Additionally, you can receive nutrition counseling from our campus dietitian Mindy Rice. Sessions typically last one hour and a $15 fee is billed to your student account. Mindy can be reached at [email protected]. More information about NEDA and eating disorders can be found at https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/.
Come as you are, not how you think you should be.