For many who battle with compulsive eating, they struggle with their problem in silence.

Iowa State’s Student Counseling Service has a “very well-developed eating disorder program,” according to Suzanne Zilber, staff psychologist.

In the past, they have provided help for students suffering from anorexia and bulimia, and now, they are expanding their services with a support group for students who suffer from compulsive eating.

Zilber said the group was formed at the request of a few clients of student counseling.

“We didn’t see as many [at our group] as we see suffering,” she said. Zilber and Sandy Jensen, staff counselor, are hoping to draw more persons into the support group this semester.

The group was small last fall, with only three members, but it can accommodate eight people.

“We are not a group about dieting,” Zilber said, “It is a group for students who compulsively eat to manage emotions. We will be learning how to cope with societal oppression about our physical appearance, learn emotion management skills and become aware of environmental and behavioral triggers for overeating — and most importantly, self-acceptance, regardless of size.”

Zilber said she and Jensen believe in the right for people to have a variety of body sizes.

“The medical establishment has reported that 95 percent of diets do not work, so to judge people is cruel,” Zilber said.

She added that people struggle with dieting because, when they try and then fail, it sets them up for over-eating, due to the extreme pressure of dieting.

Zilber also said people who do not feel nurtured also turn to eating for comfort.

Discrimination is a problem for compulsive eaters, Zilber said.

There is documented evidence of job discrimination based on body size, she said, as well as airplane seats or other public facilities that are not accommodating to persons of larger sizes.

Zilber said “people also tend to look at weight as a moral issue. They see larger-sized people as immoral.”

Student Counseling Service will be holding the first support group Feb. 12.

If students are interested in attending, registration is on the third floor of the Student Services Building.

All information shared in the support group is confidential and the group is open to men and women. There is no cost for students enrolled at ISU.