Students get educated at eating disorder screening

Junior Sam Turner knows that his attitude toward eating is unhealthy, but luckily he has an outlet. He is a fitness specialist minor, learning about healthy caloric intake and exercise patterns. In an assignment for his living wellness class Turner was required to go to a health screening on campus. \nTurner chose to participate in an eating disorder screening at the fifth annual National Body Image/Eating Disorder Awareness and Screening Day, which was held Thursday at the Student Recreation Sports Complex and the School of Education Atrium. \nOne in four women on a college campus suffers from an eating disorder, a statistic the Counseling and Psychological Services does not take lightly. However, the screening confronted all forms of eating disorders, including those in men.\n"A common misconception is that men don't suffer from eating disorders," said Chris Meno, a CAPS counselor. \nTurner understands this misconception. Turner is a ballet major and does not hesitate to admit that he and some of his colleagues might suffer from mild eating disorders.\n"I had a huge cookie and a large cup of coffee this morning," Turner said. "That will constitute as two meals for me today, or maybe even three."\nFor students like Turner who feel they might have a problem, but are not sure, CAPS offered a special screening during which students could fill out questionnaires about their eating and exercise patterns and have their answers assessed by a specialist. Terry Ransel, a licensed clinical social worker with CAPS and director of the Eating Disorder Screening Day, warned that the screening was not a diagnosis.\n"Students can take the screening and use it as a stepping stone to approach what could be a problem," Ransel said.\nHollie Savitt, a sophomore who passed by the screening booth, took an active interest in the screening, though she is certain she does not have an eating disorder. She hopes the information that she took from the screening could help her reach out to others who may have a problem. Savitt's attitude is just what Ronald Beebe, an intern at CAPS, was hoping for.\n"Not only are we hoping to reach out to people suffering with an eating disorder," Beebe said, "but we are also trying to help people who know someone who is struggling with a disorder, but don't know how to approach the situation."\nCAPS also offered interactive games in which students look at different body types on a bulletin board and make value judgements. The same bulletin board displayed myths and statistics about eating disorders.\n"Often people think that if someone is of average weight, they can not have an eating disorder," Meno said. "This is another huge misconception."\nIn actuality, about 70 percent of people suffering from eating disorders are average weight. \nOverall, Meno is happy with the outcome of each year's National Body Image/Eating Disorder Awareness and Screening Day.\n"Every year we have students who attend the screening and eventually seek help at CAPS because the screening has helped them confront their problems," Meno said. \nCAPS continues to encourage students to educate themselves on eating disorders.\n"Education can not only help with the treatment of an eating disorder," Ransel said, "but it can also prevent an eating disorder and prevention is what we are after."\nFor more information on eating disorders contact CAPS at 855-5711.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Monica Dix at mcdix@indiana.edu.