FEBRUARY 24, 2005

Mesa State College to Promote Eating Disorder Awareness

Grand Junction, CO - The Mesa State College Nursing Department will promote eating disorder awareness with a special guest panel on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Wubben Hall's Weldon Lecture Hall and a free screening on March 3 from 9 a.m. to noon in the W.W. Campbell College Center's Boettcher room.

"The goal of the program is to both raise the level of awareness about eating disorders and to encourage people who may be suffering from eating disorders to seek further help and treatment," said Bethany Hoffman, associate professor of nursing at Mesa State College.

The special guest panel will include Mary Barnett, a registered dietician who works with pediatric physicians, and Dalene Brigman, the driving force behind the local eating disorders support group. A local therapist who works with people with eating disorders will also join the panel.

On March 3, Mesa State will also offer the National Eating Disorders Screening Program to campus and regional community members. This screening focuses on the three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Participants will be provided a copy of their screening results and appropriate referrals. Educational material will also be available.

Both the guest panel and the screening, which are being held as part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Month, are free and open to the public. They are being co-sponsored by Mesa State College Lectures and Forums. For more information, contact the Mesa State College Nursing Department at 970.248.1326.

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