The Changing Face of Eating Disorders

PLYMOUTH-Eating disorders have a biological and genetic basis, and occur in people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, both male and female. Twenty-five to thirty-five percent of all patients with binge eating disorder are men. Information for professionals and family members about the many and varied aspects of eating disorders, and prevention and education strategies will be presented in a daylong workshop from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23. The Many Faces of Eating Disorders will be held at the Common Man Inn in Plymouth.Workshop coordinator Dr. Mardie Burckes-Miller is professor of health education and director of the PSU Eating Disorders Institute. She has spent more than 20 years in eating disorders research, education and prevention. She is a certified eating disorders specialist (CEDS) and has been a coordinator of Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Week events. She presents regularly at national conferences, publishes and implements outreach programs.Concurrent sessions will be offered in three tracks-education, clinical and family-on topics such as medical complications and syndromes of eating disorders, schools and community collaboration, managing medical issues of eating disorders and self-harm, depression and obsessive compulsive disorders. The complete workshop brochure and registration form is available online at www.plymouth.edu/graded/institutes.Keynote speakers are Mona Villapiano, independent psychologist and author, and Laura Goodman, independent psychotherapist with specialties in areas of eating disorders, children and adolescents. They will discuss case studies illustrating diversity in age, gender, sexual orientation, race, culture and religious affiliation of people with eating disorders, and how treatment, despite its many universal principles, must be tailored to the specific needs of these diverse clients.Registration for the workshop is $99 in advance (by April 15) or $109 at the door if space is available. A reduced rate is available for students and family members. The registration fee includes lunch and materials. For registration information contact Amy Rice, Office of Graduate Studies, (603) 535-2734 or via e-mail to abrice@plymouth.edu. The workshop is also available for graduate credit, at an additional charge. Continuing education credits (CEUs) are offered for a variety of professions, provided by the Northern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center. Contact Laura Remick at (603) 444-0615 ext. 222. for information about CEUs.