UW-Madison students are creating a new student organization that offers a safe space for individuals to discuss eating disorders.
Carter Kofman, a UW-Madison senior and one of six founders of the organization, said the group is still in its infancy. It has yet to have a title, but he and the other students know they want it to be a weekly meeting of a peer support group setting. They also know that education will be a key component, and they have connected with the National Eating Disorders Association to get information for their chapter. Kofman’s goal for the group will be to find a way to teach those both struggling with eating disorders and those who don't about the issue.
“I hope that it removes shame for people experiencing these feelings, behaviors and actions,” Kofman said. “There can be less stigma around eating disorders and the implications of them and how we handle them. This can shape how we talk to our friends about them and remind people that we shouldn’t make jokes about them.”
Kofman also co-chairs the support group organization Live Free. This organization provides a place of safe conversation for students struggling with substance abuse or those who want an alternative to the party culture on campus. He said that the new group will have a similar feel to that of Live Free.
“Like Live Free, this group will create a space to have that conversation to open that dialogue between students,” Kofman said. “They’ll learn that there are other students who are obsessed with eating, whether that be restricting or binging. There’s other people who are not comfortable with their bodies, and we’ll have discussions on how to change that on campus.”
Kofman plans to connect their new organization to others on campus that encourage wellness and happiness to students. Along with other founding members, Kofman plans to launch the group in the spring. Most founding members will graduate shortly after meetings start, but he hopes that new leaders will lead the organization forward.
“This is just a little seed in the ground,” Kofman said. “There’s so much room for this to grow. It would be awesome if there were other voices in the process.”
