This year, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) brings eating disorder awareness to campuses and communities around the world during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week from Feb. 26 through March 3. The University of Nevada, Reno Student Health Center and University Counseling Services have partnered with the local Center for Hope of the Sierras for a week of awareness events on campus, part of a 25-year national effort.

"In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia," said Meghan Eliopulos, marketing and admissions director for the Center for Hope of the Sierras. "This week will focus on the ways we are all vulnerable to influence by the media, including social media, in its infiltration of our mental images of body and beauty, and how to counteract these influences and reduce the likelihood of the development of eating disorders."

Eliopulos also said that many individuals struggle with body dissatisfaction and sub-clinical disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

"It has been shown that 80 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance," she said. Because of the secretive nature of eating disorders, many cases go unreported. On college campuses alone, it has been reported that 91 percent of women attempted to control their weight through dieting."

Events scheduled for the week include a screening of America the Beautiful 2: The Thin Commandments, including a question and answer session with Director Daryl Roberts, a discussion panel at Wooster High School to discuss the effects of media messaging on body image, a yoga session to improve mindfulness and more.

National Eating Disorder Association Week Events

• Monday, Feb. 27, all day: "Fat Talk-Free Zones," various locations around campus
• Tuesday, Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m.: "America the Beautiful 2: The Thin Commandments," with Director Daryl Roberts, Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre, Third Floor
• Wednesday, Feb. 29, noon-1:30 p.m.: "How to Lose 20 lbs. in a Week: Myth vs. Fact," discussion, Joe Crowley Student Union Graduate Student Lounge, Third Floor
• Wednesday, Feb. 29, 6-8 p.m.: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall..." discussion panel on media messaging and the effects on body image, Wooster High School's Library and Career Center
• Thursday, March 1, noon-1:30 p.m.: "Mindfulness Through Yoga," Joe Crowley Student Union Graduate Student Lounge, Third Floor
• Friday, March 2, all day: "Make-up-Free Friday," a day to ditch the make-up and let your natural beauty shine

For more information and downloadable fliers, visit the University's Student Health Center page at Student Health Center Events page. For more about NEDA, go to National Eating Disorders Association website.