Editor’s Note: The following guest column was submitted by Student Wellness Services.

In the U.S., 30 million people are impacted from a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their life, including Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or an Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) (NEDA, 2018). Approximately 95% of those who have eating disorders are 12-25 years old (MEDA, 2020). If eating disorders impact this large of a population, why are they so easily overlooked?

Student Wellness Services wants to help increase your awareness of eating disorders, gain tools to become an intuitive eater and boost body positivity on campus. Show your support by participating in the following National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Events on February 24-28, 2020. The events are sponsored by Student Wellness Services, Student Health Advisory Committee, UNI Dining, Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa, Student Health Center, and Recreation Services.

The schedule of events for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is as follows:

•Love Your Body Yoga (February 24-28): Attend FREE yoga classes all week with Recreation Services. Check out the schedule for class times at the WRC and Health Beat: https://recreation.uni.edu/fitness

•Kara Richardson Whitely Guest Speaker (February 25): Come hear Kara talk about her experiences as a plus-sized author who climbed Mount Kilamanjro three times! Maucker Union Ballroom A, 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

•The Gene Project (February 25-27): Learn how to “love the genes” you’re in! Chat about Health at Every Size with Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) on Wednesday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

•Intuitive Eating Lunch & Learn (February 27): Bring your own lunch and learn how to live out an intuitive eating lifestyle! Maucker Union Plaza Conference Room, 12 p.m.-1 p.m.

•Fat Talk Free Friday (February 28): Check out SWS social media to dismantle negative self-talk!

Stop by and check them out! For more information, contact Jenna Petersen at [email protected] or visit our website: studentwellness.uni.edu. SWS is looking forward to learning and spreading awareness together!