Men, are you worried about female friends who may be constantly dieting to control their weight?

Women, are you among the 90 percent of college-aged women who are concerned about their body image?

If so, you may not be surprised to learn that according to the National Eating Disorders Association, 5 to 10 million women and girls struggle with body image issues that evolve into eating disorders. How does an eating disorder differ from healthy versions of watching your weight, monitoring your fat intake and exercising?

Eating disorders are much more complicated -- ironically, it's not just about eating. They arise from a combination of behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors. People with eating disorders often use food and the control of food to help them deal with feelings and emotions that seem overwhelming or contribute to a loss of control. Dieting, bingeing and purging may start as a coping mechanism for painful emotions and provide a sense of control again; however, ultimately these behaviors can seriously damage your physical and emotional health.

The two most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both are serious and have potentially damaging health consequences. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight or being "fat." Some of the warning signs include a dramatic loss of weight, a preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams and dieting. Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating and purging behavior to prevent weight gain. Between 80 to 90 percent of bulimics will induce vomiting. Other behaviors associated with bulimia include misuse of laxatives, fasting and excessive exercise. You can learn more about these two eating disorders on the University Health Services Web site. Our eating disorder page, www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/healthinformation/patientlibrary/ health/eatingdefinitions.cfm is an excellent resource for initial information about eating disorders, body image and how to help a friend who may have an eating disorder. There are also several resources on campus to help students suffering from eating disorders:

-Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): 863-0395

-Clinical Services: 863-0774

-Nutrition Clinic: 863-7414

-Office of Health Promotion and Education: 863-0461

If you think you or a friend may have an eating disorder, don't ignore it! Act now to get the help to deal with this potentially serious disorder.