With Eating Disorder Awareness Week wrapping up, so did the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s slate of events aimed at promoting education and support. Throughout the week, the university hosted programs designed to raise awareness about eating disorders and their wide-ranging impacts. With eating disorders affecting millions of people nationwide, organizers emphasized the importance of early recognition and open conversation.
One event was the Scale Smash, held in the University Center Feb. 26, allowing participants to smash bathroom scales in a symbolic stand against eating disorders and body shaming.
Participants wrapped bathroom scales in garbage bags before striking them with a baseball bat; a physical gesture meant to represent breaking free from harmful body expectations.
The event also included an arts and crafts section, offering students who had already smashed their scales a quieter way to decompress and reflect.
While symbolic victories over eating disorders are important, understanding the warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders is also crucial.
Licensed clinical psychologist and Counseling Services Director Stacy Weber explained the many warning signs and side effects of eating disorders. By identifying both these emotional and behavioral changes, students can seek help from professionals on campus and understand they are not alone.
Weber explained that some of the most common warning signs of eating disorders include irritability, anxiety and poor self image. These can manifest in many ways, such as skipping meals regularly, avoiding total groups of foods for no medical reason, not eating in front of other people, feeling guilt or shame after eating or excessive poking or prodding at one’s own body.
With nearly 10% of Americans expected to experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, knowing these warning signs is important to ensure proper help is available. The earlier treatment begins, the more successful it is.
Weber also detailed some symptoms of eating disorders, including a significant decrease in memory and processing speed that can affect academic performance.
Perhaps the most significant symptom of eating disorders is a change in dopamine attraction. When a person eats, their brain releases dopamine. However, when a person under-eats, the lack of dopamine release causes the brain to seek it from elsewhere. Those other sources could be negative, such as excessive drug use.
The most important thing to know is how eating disorders occur on a spectrum.
“Just because you don’t have a formal eating disorder doesn’t mean you aren’t having challenges. Eating disorders don’t always look a certain way. We have a perception that you need to be underweight to have an eating disorder. Weight isn’t the only indicator of an eating disorder,” Weber said.
By understanding the warning signs of eating disorders and addressing them both literally and symbolically through events like the Scale Smash, the community can continue to push back against these disorders.
If you feel you might be experiencing any of these symptoms or warning signs, contact University Health and Counseling Services at 262-472-1234.
