University holding events on eating disorders this week

When Brandy Kissel feels stress bearing down on her, she goes for a "nice big run." She used to deal with stress in a far less healthy way during high school -- through alternately starving herself and throwing up what she ate.

Having recovered from anorexia and bulimia, the 22-year-old will publicly share her story in case it helps someone else with an eating disorder.

"It's happened to a lot of great people," said Kissel, a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University. "Those people need to realize that they're worth getting over it and not to be ashamed of it."

For National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Southeast Missouri State University will hold four events this week to educate students and the community on how to recognize the early signs of eating disorders and how to get help for people who have them.

The events are geared toward college students, but the public may attend. Educational materials will be distributed at all the events.

"Of the vast majority of people I've counseled, the eating disorder started in high school," said Dr. Linda Vogelsang, counselor at the Center for Health and Counseling. About 66 percent of girls and 17 percent of boys are dieting, so parents, high school students and people involved with high school students should attend, she said.

Early recognition from the signs of eating disorders is important, said Debbie Cohen, clinical faculty associate. People usually are more willing to acknowledge that they have a problem when it is just starting.

"It's extremely hard to help someone with an established eating disorder," she said.

Today's event will feature guest speaker Juliet Funt, daughter of "Candid Camera" creator Allen Funt. She will focus on "what it's really like inside the mind of a person who has an eating disorder," empathy being her goal.

"Having an eating disorder is the same as being a drug addict or alcoholic, except food and dieting are the drug," she said. Her disorder involved extreme swings in weight.

Tuesday's event will be a panel, where Kissel and others will share their experiences with eating disorders. Kissel is prepared to share her life so that people will gain another perspective on the issue, she said.

Wednesday's event will be conducted by trained staff from the Center for Health and Counseling. Thursday's event will have guest speakers from the university's dietetic interns.

jmetelski@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127