One in every 100 young women suffer from anorexia, and four in every 100 college-age women suffer from bulimia. In an effort to educate students about these and other eating disorders, Iowa State is taking part in National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Feb. 23 through March 2.

“The focus this year is ‘listen to your body,'” said Dr. Jennifer Sikute, staff psychologist at Student Counseling Services.

“We want everyone to see what role that food and body image play in their life, and to question the value our culture has placed on them.”

Although the majority of those with eating disorders are college-aged women, the problems can affect anyone, Sikute said.

“We are all at different risks in different ways because of cultural messages,” she said. “There are a lot of young women being affected, but the men are there, too.”

Suzanne Hendrich, associate dean and professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, agreed that cultural emphasis on being thin has made eating disorders a more prominent issue in our society today.

“Those with eating disorders generally have a combination of self-esteem and body issues as well as a sort of food obsession that has led them to believe that this way of treating themselves is the best solution,” she said.

“Some type of intervention needs to be made, an awareness that the problem is there, because denial drives these conditions even further.”

No one thing causes an eating disorder, Sikute said, although diets have become a major contributing factor.

“There can be some genetic predisposition factors that cause the disorder as well as personality factors that generally revolve around our society’s strong emphasis on thinness.”

Hendrich said there are many controversial ways to treat the different levels of eating disorders.

“When someone has an eating disorder, it becomes a deep part of their personality — their way of looking at the world and themselves,” she said.

“In their eyes, treating the disorder would be losing a strong part of who they are, and if the whole process is seen negatively it will be much more difficult to mend.”

It is important for those suffering emotionally or physically with an eating disorder to know that there is help available, Sikute said.

“[Student Counseling Services] provide an eating disorder assessment where we schedule sessions of counseling to understand the extent of the problem, individual and group sessions are available, and all services are free,” she said.

Hendrich said both the counseling services’ and student health center’s programs are confidential.

“There is someone there to help you through the struggle, and maybe even save yourself from the dangerous effects the disorders can have,” she said.

Sikute said it’s important for everyone, not just those who suffer, to know the dangers of eating disorders.

“There are both physical and emotional medical consequences — from depriving and starving the body to the psychological battle that includes severe energy loss and depression,” she said.

Sikute said there is more to eating disorders than food.

“They are much more complex and it is important for everyone to know that help is out there,” she said.

There will be a display on eating disorder awareness in the Memorial Union Feb. 23 through March 2, as well as a health fair 5 to 8 p.m. March 5 in the Lied Recreation Center.