If the statistics hold true, much of the student population at Tufts suffers from some form of eating concern. Eighty percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Forty-five percent of American women are on a diet on any given day. These figures translate into an estimated five to ten million girls and women, and one million boys and men, who are struggling with eating disorders.
Due to these astounding figures and to Health Services' concern about students with eating issues on campus, Health Services is kicking off Eating Disorders Awareness Week at Tufts. This year, Health Services is focusing on educational programming and distributing information through a variety of resources on campus.
"We just want to let people know we're out there and that there are a variety of ways on campus to get help," Director of Health Services Michelle Bowdler said.
The feature presentation for the week is a program called Andrea's Voice, inspired by the death of a 19-year-old college student from complications from bulimia in 1999. Since her death, Andrea's parents Doris and Tom Smeltzer have given talks on college campuses, hoping to educate college students about eating disorders. They hope that Andrea's death, along with the issues surrounding eating disorders, won't go unnoticed.
"The parents are out giving talks nationwide [because] they lost a daughter to an eating disorder," Health Services Nurse Carol Maltacea said.
Before their daughter's eating became a problem, the Smeltzers believed themselves to be relatively informed. They soon realized that their knowledge of the disorder was grossly incomplete.
The presentation will address awareness of eating disorders and body image. The Smeltzers say that the presentation is not meant to be a retelling of Andrea's battle with bulimia, but rather to empower and educate other students. By providing statistics and dispelling stereotypes, they hope to offer resources to people who need them.
After the presentation, the Health Services staff will be available to answer questions, lead small discussion groups, or talk individually with students. Health Services is also in charge of the Eating Disorders Task Force on campus. This initiative seeks to help students who have eating issues or concerns, and is comprised of various organizations campus including the Counseling Center, Dining Services, Residential Life, and the athletics department. By making the task force interdisciplinary, Health Services hopes to address eating concerns in a variety of non-threatening ways.
"I think it's a great idea, and I'm glad that it's there," Resident Assistant Divya Muthappa said. "I think it's a good way to deal with it." Muthappa added that students are often intimidated by health professionals, so the interdisciplinary approach is particularly helpful.
Health Services plans to work through various departments in order to educate students and spread the word about ways to deal with eating concerns. Departments like Athletics may sponsor programs for students about healthy ways to lose weight, while other departments will help students who come to them with questions. Still, other departments, through RAs or chaplains, may be available to act as a referral service for students who are unsure where to turn with their concerns.
"I would advise [students] certainly to take advantage of the services that are available," Maltacea said. "It's totally confidential and very private."
Recently Health Services hired a nutritionist as another resource for students struggling with eating issues. The Counseling Center is also available for those who have questions and want to talk more personally about their concerns.
According to experts, college is a time when people are especially vulnerable eating disorders.
"I think it's just the added stress," Maltacea said. "It's a coping mechanism. It's not an appropriate one, but it's a coping mechanism."
