As a part of the "signature event" for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Health Services ran the Great Jeans Giveaway this week, encouraging students to donate clothing that makes them feel uncomfortable with their body image.
The event, which ran Tuesday through Thursday, is a means of promoting eating disorder awareness and a healthy body image, said Heather Bell, nutritionist at Health Services.
Approximately 25 people donated clothes in the campus post office over the three days, and there were also donation bins in campus dining halls throughout the week.
NEDA, the country's largest non-profit eating disorder awareness group, has been coordinating the nationwide event for 20 years.
In accordance with their slogan - "Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the TRUE you" - NEDA urges everyone to accept his or her own natural, genetically-based body shape and size.
According to the group's Web site, NEDA also places emphasis on the role of genetics in eating disorders to underscore the fact that "eating disorders are serious illnesses, not choices." NEDA emphasizes genetics' essential role in determining one's body type. Health Services ran the event to "raise awareness about eating disorders and let people know that treatments are available," Bell said.
The donation table at the post office was stocked with flyers presenting information on female and male eating disorders and the media's role in influencing body image.
Ken Morales '09, a student employee at Health Services, said that some college students may not see eating and body image disorders as adult issues, and that they are often feminized.
"There are misconceptions that eating disorders are a young, female issue," he said. "People often think it's more of a high school thing."
But nutritionists are realizing that there should be more emphasis on the rising number of males with eating disorders, Morales said.
Those who dropped off clothes received a free NEDA t-shirt, and the donated clothing will be given to Rhode Island-based charities.
