Did you know that March is National Nutrition month AND National Women’s Month? For this week’s healthy tip, I thought we’d combine the two. Eating disorders disproportionately affect women; while statistics vary, Harvard Health estimates that nearly 90% of eating disorder cases are women. There is no specific cause of eating disorders; however, past trauma, bullying, social stigmas, etc. may all influence the development of one. Stereotypically, eating disorders are seen in young, white women. However, anyone no matter age, race, gender, or weight can develop an eating disorder. In fact, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and even men are often overlooked when it comes to diagnosing eating disorders. If you have concerns that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder, please seek support. You can contact the OWU Student Health Center or Counseling Services for resources.
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/eating-disorders-in-adult-women
https://www.psycom.net/women-eating-disorders/
https://anad.org/get-informed/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/
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OWU Sponsoring Organization/Office: OWU Student Health Center
Contact: Leigh Stavar at health@owu.edu