BIEDA, or Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness, has had a presence on campus in the past, but on Sept. 27, 2013, it officially became one of Iowa State’s newest student organizations.

Chloe Lundquist, junior in dietetics and co-president of BIEDA, gave much of the credit for transitioning BIEDA to an official student organization to Kylie Thompson, senior in dietetics, who serves as co-president as well.

“Participation in Awareness Week has been going on for a while, and other people helped with the planning and organization, but Kylie was the key in us becoming an official student organization,” said Lundquist. “Now we run the group together.”

The reasons Thompson and Lundquist were so determined about BIEDA becoming a student organization are straightforward.

“We needed to take this next step so we would have more resources available to us,” Thompson said. “We couldn’t reserve rooms, and the funding issue was a concern. Now, we are able to be a part of Club Fest, Winter Fest and can expand student outreach.”

The enhanced ability for outreach has been evident, Lundquist said, even in the two short months since BIEDA officially became part of the fabric of Iowa State University.

“I’ve already had people in dietetics approach me and ask about the group because they became aware of BIEDA through its inclusion as a student organization,” Lundquist said.

Lundquist claimed that this new status helps BIEDA and its members disseminate information more effectively, which in turns gives their message more strength throughout campus.

“Our mission statement is basically that we encourage a positive, sustainable lifestyle through body image and eating disorder awareness, and help with campus and local resource identification,” Lundquist said. “We want to promote loving your body how it is, and also educating people about eating disorders … and how to get help.”

Thompson clarified the nature of BIEDA beyond the mission statement.

“We’re definitely a group focused on activism. We want to be a source of support, but we’re more of a resource for someone who needs any help for themselves or others,” Thompson said. “We can point them in the right direction.”

The involvement of both Lundquist and Thompson in BIEDA is rooted in personal experience dealing with eating disorders.

“I dealt with an eating disorder and I feel that it’s an issue that needs more awareness,” Lundquist said. “After having experienced it, I would never wish it on my worst enemy. If there’s any blessing in it, it’s now I know what I want to do with my life, and that’s to help others who are struggling.”

Thompson expounded upon Lundquist’s sentiments citing her own experience.

“I have personal experience with it as well. I think in college it’s very prevalent. It’s a coping mechanism to deal with major life changes or stress. It’s about having a sense of control, and it sneaks up on people,” Thompson said. “I don’t regret going through it because now I have a path for where I want to take my life.”

BIEDA’s current schedule consists of bi-weekly meetings and preparing for early next semester when numerous opportunities for active student participation will become available.

“Our big events start in February. National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is Feb. 23 through Mar. 1,” Thompson said.

On Feb. 20 headline speaker Dr. Ralph Carson will kickoff the slate of events with a presentation on binge eating, Thompson said.

“Another of the events we’re having is a diversity panel,” Lundquist said. “Eating disorders usually affect women, but the rates of men being affected are rising. Stereotypes about eating disorders as they affect different races and genders need to be addressed. People don’t realize how many different kinds of people eating disorders impact.”

BIEDA is open to any and all students regardless of gender. Currently there are about 15 to 20 members, and two of them are men, Lundquist said.

“Eating disorders are mental illnesses, and they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness,” Lundquist said. “We want to help anyone that’s struggling.”