Do you think your eating or exercise is getting out of control? Do you experience stress around your eating and exercise habits? Do you find yourself feeling preoccupied with your weight, body shape and size, and food choices? Are you concerned about a family member or friend who seems underweight, is restricting food intake, overexercises or vomits after meals? Tang Center offers the following services that can be of help.
At University Health Services there are health care providers who help students with eating disorders (ED). These providers include physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, , dietitians, psychiatrists, and therapists. Some providers have additional special training in the treatment of ED. The health care providers address the physical, psychological and nutritional aspects of an ED and support students in recovery. ED care is available to all UC Berkeley students, regardless of insurance.
Recovery from an eating disorder is best supported through engagement with a multidisciplinary team led by a therapist. Therapists can help address the underlying stressful thoughts about food and body.
To connect to a therapist, call Social Services at (510) 642-6074. Please be advised that Social Services can only provide brief counseling and cannot guarantee weekly visits. Many students struggling with eating disorders need weekly counseling and Social Services can show you how to find a local community provider. Social services can also help facilitate referrals to more intensive levels of treatment if appropriate.
Medical providers evaluate and monitor how your physical body is doing. Dietitians provide nutrition guidance and support normalization of eating behaviors.
At UHS, ED Clinic visits are offered in which students are seen by both a medical provider and dietitian at the same time for an eating disorder consultation. No therapy is provided in these visits. Please be advised that at certain times in the semester when demand is high, weekly follow-up visits cannot be guaranteed. Additional individual medical and individual nutrition visits are available through UHS.
Please call (510) 643-7110 to schedule an appointment for an ED Clinic visit. To schedule an appointment with only the dietitian, call (510) 642-6074.
Students: If you have not been seen at UHS for this issue or are not sure where to start, call the Social Services office at (510) 642-6074 to discuss your particular situation and how we can best meet your needs.
Staff: If you are concerned about a student with a possible eating disorder and would like a consultation, you may call Social Services at (510) 642-6074.
Are you interested in learning more about developing a positive body image and preventing eating disorders? You may request a two-part training for your group of 8-12 students, provided by specially trained peer leaders. Peer leaders have had training through the Body Project Collaborative (link is external).
The Body Project has been implemented on over 100 campuses in North America. To find out if a training is right for your group, or to learn more about becoming a leader yourself, contact Toby Morris, Registered Dietitian, at (510) 642-5075.