The George Washington (GW) University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) will hold a public forum on February 25 that will address the prevalence and impact of eating disorders, especially on college campuses. The event will feature a keynote talk by Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and author of the best-selling book "Obsessed: America's Food Addiction---and My Own."
The majority of eating disorders begin before the age of 25 and the transition to college can trigger or exacerbate unhealthy eating patterns. An estimated 25 percent of college-age women say they binge and purge as a method of weight management. Young men are also affected, and in fact, up to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.
Join us on February 25 for a discussion about anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders. After the keynote talk there will be a Q-and-A with Ms. Brzezinski who will discuss her own struggles with food and body image issues. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion including experts on eating disorders, as well as GW students who will talk about the problem from personal experience. The panel will be moderated by Melissa Napolitano, PhD, an associate professor in prevention and community health at SPHHS, a psychologist and an expert on the formation of healthy eating habits.
In addition to the event on February 25, SPHHS will host a week-long series of events to raise awareness of eating disorders.