By: Shelby Mills
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)- According to the National Eating Disorder Association, research shows that 15% of female and 7% of male college students struggle with an eating disorder in the United States.
Pat Walker Health Center has an eating disorder treatment team to combat this issue for students at the University of Arkansas.
For Dr. Meredith Moore, raising awareness for those struggling has a deeper meaning.
“For me it’s a bit of a personal story, but I struggled with my own eating disorder as a teenager. So when I became a therapist and went through some of that training, I really discovered that I had a passion for helping other people with a similar story,” Dr. Moore said.
The team at Pat Walker Health Center is trying to change the narrative of diet culture and they want students to know that there are other options.
Dr. Debbie Deere is the medical director for Pat Walker Health Center’s eating disorder team and said it is important to raise awareness.
“I really hope that students come through here and learn that there is hope, that they are not alone, and that it is not uncommon,” Dr. Deere said.
On Friday, the team held an event in the Arkansas Union in honor of National Eating Disorder Week, Feb. 27 through March 5.
The team passed out flowers and held activities that showed students their weight does not affect their worth.