National Eating Disorders Awareness Week at UW-Whitewater

February 24, 2014

A series of campus events aims to raise awareness about eating disorders.

Jill Mallin, a licensed psychologist University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS), said National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which runs from Feb. 24 - March 2, is a chance for people to take a critical eye at personal body image expectations.

She said changes to eating habits can be helpful even in people who do not show symptoms of an eating disorder.

"I specialize in working with students with eating disorders and I look for new and creative ways to reach the students and create awareness about eating disorders," she said.

UW-Whitewater's events include:

• "I Am Enough" campaign.

"We want students to take a 'selfie' and post it to the UHCS Facebook page www.facebook.com/UniversityHealthCounselingServices," Mallin said. "Our goal is to get students to think about their strengths and then the posted pictures from Facebook will be up in the University Center."

• "Media and Body Image" workshop

At noon on Tuesday, in the Fern Young Terrace in the Center of the Arts, Kelly Parks Snider, the co-founder of Project Girl www.projectgirl.org/index.php, will lead a discussion about the cultural landscape that young people face today, and its impact on young girls.

• "Then and Now: I Had No Idea" discussion

From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, in Hyland Hall room 2101, Gwen Hering, a counselor at UHCS on campus, and a former track athlete and power lifter, will share her personal struggle with bulimia and her journey to recovery.
"Athletes have to eat right to get optimal performance, but some don't know how to do that once their sport is over," Mallin said.

• "Art and Media: A Hands-On Workshop" will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the Fern Young Terrace.

The workshop will demonstrate how people are exposed to about 5,000 media images a day. The display will show how art is used to for advertising and how the images' meanings are depicted to women. Space is limited, so an RSVP is required to Mallin at mallinj@uww.edu.

To receive free help on nutrition, mental health issues, or medical issues, contact the University Health and Counseling Services at 262-472-1300 or www.uww.edu/UHCS.