21 Jan 2012 Eating disorders – 'It's not a choice'
by Kellie Dye
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week – Feb. 26 through March 3 – is to raise awareness of the dangers of eating disorders and the vital need for early intervention and treatment.
It’s important to note that an eating disorder is a serious, life threatening disease – it’s not a choice. It affects males and females, all ages and all socioeconomic levels. In support of this week, there will be many events both locally and around the country to raise awareness of both eating disorders and poor body image.
More and more people are using food, whether under eating or overeating, as a way to cope with negative emotions. Children are not immune to this practice. It’s easier to stuff your feelings with food rather than to feel those uncomfortable feelings. Or it may be easier to restrict food in order to have something that you can control when the rest of your life may feel out of control. When children (and adults) can learn to feel and express their feelings, they will be less likely to use food in an unhealthy way.
“Full Mouse/Empty Mouse, A Tale of Food and Feelings” by Dr. Dina Zeckhausen is a wonderful book that can help teach children how to avoid using food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings. This is a telling story of two sibling mice both using food to cope in different ways. It is geared toward ages 7-12.
This year Conway is serving as a site for the Moving Towards Health Project, a program encompassing performances, workshops, lectures and forums designed by the University of Central Arkansas College of Fine Arts in Residency program and the Houston-based dance company CORE Performance Company.
The objective is to engage the Conway community in addressing issues surrounding eating disorders, body image and healthy lifestyles. The Moving Towards Health project will take place the week of Monday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 25. The CORE Performance Company will perform a narrated dance, “Food and Feelings: Listening to Your Body,” inspired by the book “Full Mouse/Empty Mouse.” This performance was developed to encourage children’s self-awareness and positive body image. It will be presented to the third- and fourth-grade Conway public school students.
CORE will also offer four public performances of “Body as Image” at UCA on Thursday, Feb. 23. Workshops and panel forums will also be taking place that week.
For more information, email [email protected].
