Jackson College has partnered with Henry Ford Jackson Hospital to offer Jackson College students and employees medical care evaluation and treatment from the clinic’s caring staff. A licensed nurse practitioner and technical staff will be in the office to see patients, make diagnosis and assessment, prescribe medications or make referrals. |
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HEALTH CLINIC HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. (virtual care only)
Call 517.990.1374 to make an appointment.
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Eating Disorders Awareness
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Every year the last week of February is dedicated to shed awareness on eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious medical conditions not just involving food but are complex mental health conditions. Eating disorders can include conditions like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Eating disorders |
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affect people from all different backgrounds and genders, and nearly 10 percent of Americans are expected to develop an eating disorder at some point during their lifetime (National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), 2022). National Eating Disorders Week is observed to provide information, share personal stories, offer life-saving resources and education materials to those in need. |
Anorexia Nervosa - People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and types of foods that they eat. This eating disorder is characterized by weight loss, difficulty maintaining appropriate weight for height and age and distorted body image (NEDA, 2022).
Bulimia - Those with bulimia will frequently eat large amounts of food (binge eating), and during the binge the person feels that they cannot control how much they are eating or stop themselves. Binges can happen with any type of food, but most commonly occur with foods that the individual is trying to avoid or “bad foods” like sweets. After the binge the individual with bulimia will then purge (vomit) in order to compensate for the calories consumed (Petre, 2022).
Pica - Pica is an eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food and that do not have any nutritional value. Those with pica eat things such as ice, dirt, cornstarch, paper, soap, chalk, hair and laundry detergent. Those with Pica disorder have increased risk for poisoning, infections and nutritional deficiencies (Petre, 2022).
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - Binge eating disorder is characterized by eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period of time, similar to that of bulimia but without the purging aspect. Typically, those with BED will feel distress, shame and guilt following the binge. This is the most common eating disorder in the United States (NEDA, 2022).
Rumination - Rumination disorder is a newly recognized eating disorder. Rumination typically occurs within 30 minutes after eating a meal, where a person regurgitates food that they have previously chewed or swallowed. They then rechew it, or spit it out (Petre, 2022).
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) - ARFID mimics anorexia in that both disorders limit the amount or type of food consumed. But, unlike anorexia, ARFID does not involve any distress or preoccupation about body size, shape, or fear of fatness (Petre, 2022). |
| • | Secretive, extreme, ritualized food or eating habits |
| • | Extreme weight loss |
| • | Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, dieting, body image |
| • | Excessive exercising |
| • | Evidence of binge eating, where large amounts of food have disappeared |
| • | Withdrawal from usual friends and activities |
| • | Evidence of purging, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meal time |
| • | Excessive periods of fasting, diet pill use, laxative use, or extreme dieting |
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| • | Discoloration or staining of teeth |
| • | Eating alone |
| • | Denial of hunger |
| • | Hiding food |
| • | Eating past the point of discomfort |
| • | Feeling depressed, anxious, irritable, withdrawn |
| • | Refusing to eat around others |
| • | Constantly referring to one’s self as “fat” |
| • | Dry, thinning hair |
| • | Frequently feeling cold and dressing in big bulky layers |
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(Eating Disorder Foundation, 2022) |
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Eating disorders have among the highest mortality rate of any mental illness (Whitehouse, 2022). Those with eating disorders often feel shame and a stigma associated with their condition. This shame often prevents those suffering from eating disorders to seek help.
Eating disorders can affect every system in the body. For example, vomiting that is associated with bulimia can cause the lining of the esophagus to wear down and it can rupture, which is a life-threatening emergency. Also, severe prolonged dehydration, associated with anorexia, can lead to kidney failure (NEDA, 2022). These are just a few examples of the health consequences caused by eating disorders. Bottom-line, undiagnosed or untreated eating disorders have serious even fatal health consequences. |
Treatment for eating disorders includes a culmination of therapies including regular visits with a primary care provider to monitor labs and vitals signs. Treatment also includes other specifically tailored approaches including individual or group therapy. Treatment is not a one size fits all; tailored approaches are needed to meet the specific needs of each individual.
Help is always available if you or someone you know might be suffering from an eating disorder contact the HELPLINE 800-931-2237, or text NEDA to 741-741 for 24/7 crisis support, online support is available at nationaleatingdisorders.org/helplinechat
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Eating disorders are a very serious but treatable mental health condition. Getting a diagnosis is the first step towards recovery from an eating disorder. Prevention programs through NEDA national awareness campaign can educate, change attitudes, and behaviors associated with eating disorders (NEDA, 2022). |
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A combination of psychological and nutritional counseling, along with medical monitoring is the cornerstone of treatment (NEDA, 2022). The earlier that eating disorders are recognized the more effective the treatment becomes. |
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