National Eating Disorder Awareness Week - February 20-27

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures, and access to quality care. NEDA leads the effort for NEDAwareness Week, an annual campaign to educate about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope, support, and visibility to individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

The Recovery Center and Wellbeing Services raised awareness of eating disorders and recovery on the UTSA campus during this year’s NEDAwareness Week from February 20 to 27.

On Monday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 23, Recovery Center Graduate Assistant, Emily Hahn, and Wellbeing Services student employee, Montzerrat Hernandez, hosted tabling events to educate students and staff by encouraging dialogue and building confidence in identifying potential eating disorder behaviors and/or concerns.

The discourse continued with a panel discussion on Wednesday evening.  Myths and Misconceptions: A Panel Discussion About Eating Disorders featured treatment professionals from the Eating Recovery Center of San Antonio as well as a Texas Tech student in recovery from an eating disorder and member of Texas Tech's Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities.  Please read some of the featured information shared during this discussion.

• Eating disorders(and disordered eating) affect every gender, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
• People from preteens to seniors may struggle.
• Their struggles with food disrupt the health and well-being of the individual, as well as that of their families and their communities.
• Approximately 10 percent of people with eating disorders are male.
• Some males with an eating disorder want to lose weight, while others want to gain weight or “bulk up,” raising the risk for using steroids or other dangerous drugs to increase muscle mass.
• Eating disorders aren’t a choice, behavior problem, or lack of willpower.
• An eating disorder is an illness with biological and genetic roots that are influenced by culture.

While the awareness week has past, The Recovery Center offers support services to those affected by eating disorders throughout the year. Group session are held weekly on Wednesday evenings and details can be found on the Recovery Center or Wellbeing Services RowdyLink pages.