1. Eating disorders are invading college
campuses, causing stress to their
students as well as posing as a major
health issue. According to Medical
News, the medical definition of an
eating disorder is a mental illness
that cause serious disturbance in a
person’s everyday diet.

2. The three most common eating
disorders are anorexia, bulimia
and binge eating disorder.

3. Anorexia is characterized by the intense fear of gaining
weight, extreme dieting and a significant weight loss in a short
period of time.

4. Binge eating disorder and
bulimia involve compulsive
eating and binging on calorie
rich food.

5. But with bulimia,
there is the urge to
compensate by
purging, or getting
rid of the calories
through exercise or
other means.

6. In a survey done by the National Eating Disorder Association
(NEDA) of 1,000 college students, both male and female, it was
found that nearly 20 percent of participants said they either have
or have previously suffered from an eating disorder.

7. No matter which
eating disorder, it
results in a major
contortion in body
image and self
worth.

8. “Since my eating disorder has been prevalent in my life, it’s been impossible for me to
see how others view me. When people view me as thin, I view myself as fat. When
they view me as beautiful, I view myself as ugly,” DU student Maggie Jones explains.
Her name has been changed to protect her privacy.

9. “People with eating disorders feel
very ambivalent about changing”
explains Jacaranda Palmateer,
Director of Health Care Services at
the Health Care Center.

10. There have been many
efforts around DU
campus to spread eating
disorder awareness
including Tri Delta’s Fat
Talk Free Week and
Eating Disorder
Awareness Week.

11. With the highest
mortality rate of any
mental illness, it is
important to take a
stand and raise
awareness. DU
students participate in
the NEDA (National
Eating Disorder
Awareness) annual
Eating Disorder Walk.

12. The Health Care Center
provides therapy and
information on how to
lend your support if you
know someone who is
struggling. Contact for
more information.