National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is not just about eating disorder education, it is about stressing healthy development as well.

The Counseling and Student Development Center is sponsoring the week, which began Sunday and will run through Saturday.

Anne Kubal, a counselor at the CSDC, said NEDAW’s purpose is raising public awareness and understanding of eating disorders and body image issues, highlighting the destructive attitudes and unhealthy behaviors that can contribute to eating disorders and body dissatisfaction and provided information about effective treatment.

The week’s theme is “Unmask the Problem: Get Real Expectations…Get Real Information…Get Real Help.”

At least 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States are battling anorexia and bulimia, while another 25 million suffer from binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.

CSDC and NEDAW want the NIU community to nominate people who have a positive body image.

“The idea to nominate members of the NIU community for recognition as positive body image role models came out of a desire to increase NIU student and faculty involvement in this year’s campaign,” Kubal said.

Junior criminology major Linny Dove said the week is important.

“Eating disorders are more common than people think,” Dove said. “I think more people need to be aware of that.”

Freshmen nursing major Stefanie Woodfall agrees.

“It is important because an eating disorder is really a cry for help from other people,” Woodfall said.

According to NEDAW, people with a negative body image are more likely to develop an eating disorder and suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem and obsession about weight loss.

Kubal offered tips for confronting a friend who may have an eating disorder.

“Be caring, but be firm,” Kubal said. “This involves knowing the difference between facts and myths about weight, nutrition and exercise and not accepting excuses for their disordered eating patterns.”

Instead, Kubal suggested encouraging the friend to seek counseling, but remember no one can be forced to seek help or change his or her behavior.