College Corner

Q: I hear my roommate throwing up after dinner almost every night. I confronted her about it and she admitted that she has a problem but doesn’t know what to do about it. Where can she go for answers?
D.J.

A: We at Avalon Centers may be able to help depending on the level of care that she needs. We are a partial hospitalization program and we also have outpatient services. If she happens to need a higher level of care we can refer her to a place that is suitable to her needs. For more information you can call our toll free number at 866-814-0999.

Q: My mom is nervous about me starting college because she has heard that there are a lot of eating disorders on college campuses. Is that true?
K.A.

A: Your mom has a right to be concerned. Statistics show that as many as 10% of college women suffer from a clinical eating disorder. By the first year of college, 4.5 to 18% of women and 0.4% of men have a history of bulimia. Research also indicates that as many as 61% of college women have a partial syndrome (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified or eating dysfunctions). Avalon is committed to education and outreach at the college level providing general eating disorder awareness.

Elizabeth's Corner

Q: My friend says I have an eating disorder, but all I am trying to do is lose 10 pounds. What is the difference between having an eating disorder and being on a diet?
P.H.

A: Having an eating disorder is much more than just being on a diet. An eating disorder is an illness that affects all aspects of a sufferer’s life, is caused by an array of emotional factors and influences, and has overwhelming effects on the people suffering and their loved ones. Eating disorders are about everything that’s going on in one’s life—stress, coping, grief, anger, acceptance, validation, chaos, fear, pain—cleverly (or not so cleverly) concealed behind phrases like “I’m just on a diet”.

Q: Can men have eating disorders?
S.W.

A: Yes, men can have eating disorders. The statistics show that 1 million males in the United States struggle with eating disorders. Men with eating disorders are more likely to exercise to rid their bodies of unwanted calories, whereas women are more likely to practice a purging behavior. This makes it harder to identify men who have an eating disorder. Avalon Centers offers outpatient and partial hospitalization to both men and women.