Great Jeans Giveaway event leads Eating Disorders Awareness Week

March 1 will mark the 21st annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association, this is the nation's largest eating disorders outreach effort. During the week, hundreds of volunteer activists across the country will partner with NEDA to help individuals in their communities to "embrace their genes."

Susan Richter, local NEDA coordinator with New Beginnings Counseling Center, has joined the national effort to attract public attention to the seriousness of eating disorders and the pressures, attitudes and behaviors which contribute to them.

According to Richter, "While body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors, there are some new discoveries surrounding the role of genetics in the development of an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious illnesses, not personal choices."

Every day, research is uncovering the influence of genetics and finding that, while environment may pull the trigger, genetics loads the gun.

Across the nation, the Great Jeans Giveaway serves as NEDA's signature event for the national awareness week to reinforce the message "embrace your genes, wear jeans that fit the true you." The event asks participants to bring in old pairs of jeans because too often individuals struggle against their natural, genetically influenced size just to fit into that pair of "skinny jeans" in the back of their closets. Fighting one's natural size and shape can lead to unhealthy dieting practices, poor body image and eating disorders.

Locally, New Beginnings Counseling Center will sponsor a jeans giveaway and expert panel discussion, "Embrace Your Genes or Battle Your Body," at 7 p.m. on Tues., Feb. 26 at the student campus center at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road.

The panel will feature nationally recognized author Carolyn Costin, MFT; local eating disorder expert Susan Richter, MFT; and registered dietician Lois Zsarnay, MFT, along with other experienced guests for a questionandanswer panel. Free screenings and a free support group will also be offered. For information, call Sarah Nicholson Flores at (805) 5519165.

Other local events planned for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week include a candlelight vigil at 4 p.m. Sun., Feb 24 at the Cross on the Hill, Grant Park in Ventura. For information, call Tamie Gangloff at (602) 7100876 or Michelle Cisneros at (805) 620-2531.

The Ventura Nia Center will be offering a healththroughmovement class, free to firsttimers, at 6 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 28. The class will be followed by a discussion about eating disorder awareness and prevention. Class information is available at www.VenturaNiaCenter.com.

For a full listing of all NEDA events, visit the website at NewBeginningsCounseling.net.

"While eating disorders are serious and can be life-threatening illnesses, there is help available and recovery is possible, especially with early intervention," said MFT intern Flores.

For more information on the National Eating Disorders Association, visit NationalEatingDisorders .org or call their helpline at (800) 931-2237.