The UNM Women's Resource Center is offering a support group called "Accepting your Body and Nurturing Yourself" designed for female students who have body image issues.
"A diverse group of women attend these meetings and the topics are generated by the women who attend," said Elizabeth Cahn, program services coordinator. "We are basically here to listen and offer support and referrals. This is not a classroom setting but rather a group discussion that pays close attention to the issues that women have."
The group meets in Mesa Vista Hall every Thursday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and is free to the UNM community. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating are some of the disorders that the Women's Resource Center aims to help students address.
Cahn said eating disorders among college women are on the rise and many who suffer from the diseases never get treated.
"We find that a lot of times eating disorders happen when women are in college or before," she said. "However, we have seen plenty of cases when the women who have disorders are middle aged."
Cahn said many times women begin behaviors such as binge eating and later find that they need the help of a professional to stop.
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"Teens and college women begin a habit and tell themselves that it can be stopped but the habit continues on later into adulthood and gets out of control," Cahn said. "This is a daily struggle and requires the support of people who are currently suffering from the disorder or women who already have."
Four out of every 100 college women have an eating disorder, according to research from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the largest disorder is bulimia. The information also states that 20 percent of college women who suffer from an eating disorder die before the age of 25. In addition, one out of every four elementary school girls is displeased with the way her body looks.
"Many women suffer from eating disorders and never seek treatment because they are embarrassed by the situation," Cahn said. "They need to know that they are not alone in their struggle and that people are here to listen and help them become healthy."
Cahn said the group is available to talk about other issues affecting women such as work, religion, families and children.
"This program is designed to teach women how to nurture themselves, to take care of their bodies and learn to be accepting of who they are," Cahn said. "If they don't feel comfortable in our group setting we can always refer them to a specialist who can help."
Anyone interested in participating can call the Women's Resource Center at 277-3716 for more information.
