By Mitch Holt, Staff Writer

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, often leading to unfortunate means of losing weight. The Counseling Center and Marriage and Family Institute, along with the Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia in Wickenburg, Ariz., will offer an intensive workshop Feb. 26-27 that will explore the facts of eating disorders.

Jim Schettler and Janet Carr, Remuda Ranch eating disorder experts, will present a workshop to professionals to emphasize the importance of healthy eating and treating eating disorders from nutritional and psychotherapeutic perspectives.

The objectives of the workshop include gaining a better understanding of these disorders and their risk factors, developing a healthy nutritional philosophy and compiling a list of national resources for eating disorders.

“This seminar will give participants important information regarding health and nutrition,” said Steve Rowlands, director of the Counseling Center. “It will help to dispel myths regarding diets and body image. The seminar will empower all of us to be healthy, rather than to aim for a certain body image.”

The presentation is recommended to students and faculty, along with psychologists, physicians, guidance counselors, social workers and other individuals with occupations that deal with eating disorders.

The general registration fee is $50; the full-time student fee is $15. The main workshop will be Feb. 27 in Hart Auditorium, and a free brown-bag presentation entitled “Food for Thought” will be in the Hilton Room Feb. 26 at 11:45 a.m.

Along with the psychological aspects of eating disorders, the seminar will give tips on how to respond to a student, friend or loved one that may be struggling with anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorders, Rowlands said.

For a full schedule of the workshop, contact the ACU Counseling Center at Ext. 2626.