This page is designed to provide education and resources, as well as promote awareness about eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image. Eating issues and disorders are important to discuss given the possible serious emotional and physical consequences associated with eating disorders.

 

Chinese Proverb

A thousand mile walk starts with a simple step.

 

>signs / symptoms

Signs / Symptoms

What is an Eating Disorder?

There are three common types of eating disorders, which may at times overlap:

Anorexia Nervosa: is a disruption of normal eating habits characterized by excessive dieting, self-starvation, compulsive exercising, and loss of minimally 15% of normal body weight. There is an intense preoccupation with food, body size and fear of being fat. There are many dangerous and potentially life threatening side effects to this disorder.

Bulimia: is a cycle of uncontrolled binge eating followed by purging through vomiting, the use of laxatives or excessive exercise. For the most part, a binge consists of consuming large quantities of food, but sometimes a person may purge after a normal or even small intake of food. Bulimia can occur infrequently or can become an extremely debilitating pattern that absorbs all of a person's time, energy and money. As with anorexia, there are many potentially dangerous health risks associated with this disorder.

Binge Eating: is characterized by consuming large quantities of food typically in response to stress. Excessive weight gain is a common outcome.

 

>causes

Causes

What Causes an Eating Disorder?

There are many theories about the cause of eating disorders including cultural influences, family patterns, psychological issues and biological components. Surprisingly, development of an eating disorder can be viewed as an attempt to solve a complex set of emotional and psychological difficulties. Often the person with an eating disorder is seeking security and self-protection in the only way they know. Because an eating disorder is a “solution”, no matter how dangerous or self-destructive, it is difficult to give up. A supportive intervention program that addresses the physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects of an eating disorder is essential for effective treatment.

 

>treatment

Treatment

What Help is Available on the U.C. Davis Campus?

A student can begin the process of recovery in many different ways. The campus units available to help, coordinate their efforts to provide comprehensive services. You can seek help at the location where you feel most comfortable. All services are confidential. You can change your behavior and these University resources have staff available to help you.

Campus Resources:

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
  • Cowell Student Health Center
  • The House
  • Residence Halls
  • Intercollegiate, Intramural, and Club Athletics
  • Women's Resource and Research Center

CAPS Offers the Following Confidential Services:

  • Individual evaluation
  • Brief individual psychotherapy
  • Psychiatric consultation and medication evaluation
  • Brief psycho-educational groups
  • Long-term group psychotherapy (Click Here for Group Schedule)
  • Referral for long-term individual psychotherapy and individual inpatient treatment programs
  • Consultation to faculty, staff and students
  • Educational programs
  • Referral and coordination of treatment with health providers at Cowell Student Health Center

You can schedule an intake with a counselor or we have urgent care services available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday at CAPS, 219 North Hall, or for an appointment, call 752-0871.

Cowell Student Health Center Offers the Following Confidential Services:

  • Medical examination and assessment of health status and physical risks due to an eating disorder.
  • Nutritional counseling by professional staff.
  • Referral and coordination of treatment with CAPS staff who provide psychological assessment and intervention
  • Educational programs, peer education and referrals provided by Health Education & Promotion.

To make an appointment at Cowell Student Health, call (530) 752-2300

The House Offers the Following Confidential Services:

  • Brief peer counseling
  • Referral assistance
  • Educational programs

For services at The House, (TB 16) across from Regan Hall, call (530) 752-2790

 

>campus resources

UC Davis Campus Resources

ABIDE:

Association for Body Image Disordered Eating.  Click to visit the homepage.

Residence Halls:

Directors and Resident Advisors are trained to provide supportive assistance and appropriate referral. Contact your area coordinators or resident advisor for a confidential consultation.

Intercollegiate, Intramural, & Club Athletics:

The staff and coaches of the Intercollegiate Athletic Department, Pavilion and Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) are very aware of the problems students and student athletes may face. Students involved in athletic competition may be vulnerable to disordered eating habits, unhealthy diets and/or poor body image. A coach, athletic trainer, sport consultant, peer counselor in athletics (PCA) or staff member can be helpful in finding referral resources and the support needed to address these concerns. Concerns addressed with athletic trainers, sport consultants and PCA's are confidential.

  • To reach an athletic trainer call (530) 752-7515
  • To reach a sport consultant call (530) 752-0871
  • To reach a peer counselor in athletics (PCA) call (530) 754-7103

Women's Resources and Research Center

  • Campus outreach and programming on body image
  • Campus referrals
  • Information on “how to help a friend”
  • Body image and eating disorders book list
  • Library resources
  • Student computers
  • Community therapist binder
  • A safe environment

You can visit the Women's Resource and Research Center on the 1st floor of North Hall between 8am and 5pm and even during the lunch hour, Monday - Friday. Call (530) 752-3372 or visit their website at http://wrrc.ucdavis.edu

 

>other resources

Other / Community Resources

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
(708) 831-3438
www.anad.org

Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention
(206)382-3587
(800)931-2237
www.edap.org

Anorexia Nervosa And Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED)
www.anred.com/tx.html

For Family and Friends of Those with Eating Disorders:
Tips for Improving Communication with and Support for your Eating-Disordered Loved One
Microsoft Word (DOC)

 

>books

Books: Most are available in the WRRC library in North Hall

Click Here for a full list of book titles & descriptions.

Feeding the Hungry Heart by Geneen Roth

Father Hunger: Fathers, Daughters and Food by Margo Maine

The Deadly Diet: Recovering from Anorexia and Bulimia by Terence J. Sandbeck

Overcoming Overeating: Living in a World of Food by Jane R. Hirschman and Carol H. Munter

The Golden Cage: The Enigma of Anorexia Nervosa by Hilde Bruch

Fat is a Feminist Issue I & II by Susie Orbach

Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher