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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1999)
GIELIFE Page 3 • Monday, February 22, 1999 U Roadrunners "nile run at 5:3( of G. RollieWr i invited. Conta: 9 for more info" mating disorders affect health, personality, images of female college students BY BETH FOCHT The Battalion —es Up All Niglit zzJatory meeting 292Aat8p.m =z)f the two meer volunteers. Calli ZZ3740 for more a Aj n estimated 25 percent of all college-age woman have an eating dis order, and 50 percent of teenage girls are anorexic, according to the department of Student Health Education Services. Problems rang- ig from overeating to hinge eating and purging are all common disorders id can lead to heart problems, osteoporosis, reproductive difficulties, de- ression, substance-abuse disorders and ultimately death. e* REACH&Ut? National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Feb. 21 through 27, is £? will be Es' national effort to increase knowledge of these types of diseases in TablesI’i'o n effort to stop their destructiveness. This week is sponsored na- .-rn. to 2 p.r onally by eating disorder advocacy groups as well as groups specif- erfrom4p.r a j]y interested in educating college students. Eating disorders are illnesses associated with severe body image s A&M WoiK r . jstortion and an obsession with weight. People who suffer from anorexia nervosa starve themselves by dra- ' ' latically restricting their caloric intake. Sufferers have a morbid fear m Pr< ’. fbeing I'm, and this fear leads to drastic dieting. : Another common eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, is characterized y short binge periods of eating an unusually large amount of food len purging by vomiting, using laxatives or compulsively exercising, y Abroad Pr u ^ erers generally feel ashamed and guilty because they can not con- ,, e a „... ol tifieir eating habits. > promoteth ^ r - ^ ane Cohen, a nutrition specialist at the A.P. Beutel Heath Cen- im from T said disorders are being seen at earlier ages. II Hall West 15- “These disorders are showing up in younger girls, including cases fan ll-year-old being reported with these problems,” Cohn said. s A&M Taelo' With girls having eating problems this young, it Is not surprising that e held from 9:1: plleee students, even on the Texas A&M campus, have such a high > k Wivho lie of these types of disorders. " ssar); Open Cohen said problems may be related to several things including re- 5. Call Rex r : itionships, stress, school and issues of control. ‘mfomatiop. “if a student continuously uses food to handle stresses, there might e a problem,” she said. “You don’t want to use food to compromise igeRepublican our.situation.” erwelfareiii Cohen said people who are susceptible to developing a disorder ray start with a diet to help improve self-esteem or to change their .-certs and r & weight or body shape. “Sometimes, as a diet progresses, an individual may become more obsessed with weight loss and less able to eat normally,” she said. “For those who develop an eating disorder, this can be the beginning of a downward spiral, which can have tragic medical and emotional consequences.” In an effort to make Texas A&M students more aware of the exist ing problem, the Beutel Heath Center, along with Aggie Representa tive Educating About College Health (REACH), is sponsoring several activities on campus to help make students aware of problems. Throughout the week, there will be eating disorder information ta bles in the Commons, Wehner, Kleberg and the Student Recreation Center to provide students with general information on diseases and how to detect eating disorders. On Feb. 23, “Eating Disorders,” a program presented by Aggie REACH, will discuss various issues about eating disorders in room 016 of Beutal Health Center. On Feb. 24, at 8:30 p.m. in MSC 206, an eating disorder program, panel and video will be held featuring psychologist Dr. Mary Anne Moore, physician Dr. Ann Reed, dietitian Dr. Jane Cohen and a stu dent recovering from an eating disorder. This discussion will be open for any type of information and questions on eating disorders. Cohen said college students are aware of diseases but might not know what to look for if they feel someone they know might have a problem. “Students with eating disorders are often terrified of gaining weight and continue to diet, or binge and purge even as their mental and phys ical health deteriorate,” she said. “Someone with a disorder might al most pass out while jogging; they might have a weak heartbeat and almost no blood pressure. These are just a few physical things to look for. “Other things to look for might be the layering of clothes, the hid ing of food and vomiting,” Cohen said. “Generally students know when something is wrong with their friend down the hallway, and if students see these signs, it might be something to approach their friends about.” For more information on these disorders, contact the Beutal Heath Cen ter’s Health Education Center at 845-1341 or Aggie REACH at 847-9241. wiityat8:Wf CallSaraliatS Kaplai et into op-choi ioIs. nnn nwkealUhaiffleN^I r o cludonls got into la«5' j’lblliolll choice for $ : iLSAT? Aggieland 8th E> I ESI om •oMdmlulon Council A&M UNIVEtt chief Rentes. Photo Ed 1 ha Parekh, Opi#- filler, City Editoi .aGrone. Aggie® I Brown. Web E#' nth Pariani, I RS lasm Start. ;»Sam, s« w Robin & Emcth** 1 • : tesistaat: JR B^ 10, 1 Wagew, 7 Sis-GahielfW 8 ' 1 ® Mike Nodelht.. 1L Cain Casa*' tyDaniaDay.biw’ 1 '- , efcMerrisa iB-Usa Krei*"* sica Wegener 4 Ky 845# 1 got talent? ** VARIETY SHOW TALENT Who should apply? If you've got talent, we want you. Where can I sign up for tryouts? Applications are available in the MSC Hallway or in the Town Hall Cube in the Student Programs Office. What is the deadline? Applications are due by 5:00 on February 25. What are my chances? Top ten acts compete for cash prizes April 16 at Variety Show For more information call Stacey at 764-0690 »-sS£- • ■ WE’RE BACK! ■ • • ■ AND EVEN BETTER 1 . • DCI BIOLOGICALS ■ ■ • formerly Westgate Plasma Center • | ■ Same Great Location • • Same Great Service ■ ■ • ■ • ■ Great New Look COME CHECK US OUT! Donate Life-Saving Plasma and Earn $150 Per Month at: 4223 WELLBORN RD. (WESTGATE CENTER) • ■ • ■ ft • in Bryan - (409) 846-8855 w ■ ■ OR VISIT OUR EAST UNIVERSITY LOCATION • • ■ a Westgate Biologicals (in Golden Corral Shopping Center) ■ • KIM ■ (409) 268-6050 ■ ft Sneak Preview! - One day only! ,, The 1999 Off Campus Housing Tair % ■ Showcasing over 50 apartment complexes, housing management companies and locator services. Stop by to gather information on prices, floorplans, and FREE STUFF! Wednesday, February 24th 9:3Cam - 3:C€pm MSC first fleer For more information call 845-1741 or stop by Koldus 112