Anorexia. Bulimia. Binge-eating.

Millions of Americans know the first-hand effects of these diseases and millions more know someone affected by them.

“Eating disorders don’t discriminate,” said Susan Feyen, director of OMNI Behavioral Health’s Eating Disorder Program. “They affect people from all walks of life.”

Although eating disorders are widespread, there are places dedicated to the treatment, mental heath and education of those affected by eating disorders.

OMNI Behavioral Health is a nonprofit agency at 5115 F St. that provides community-based services including foster care, outpatient and home-based therapy, in-home care and group home care, in addition to an eating-disorder clinic.

The clinic, at 8715 Oak St., is sponsoring a candlelight vigil for eating disorder awareness on Thursday in conjunction with National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The vigil, which will be held from 7-8 p.m. at the Dundee Presbyterian Church at 5312 Underwood Ave., will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about real people affected by eating disorders and raise awareness, Feyen said.

“We have testimonials by people who are suffering from eating disorders, really about their struggles and their journey towards recovery,” Feyen said. “We want to make sure people understand that there are lots of ways that eating disorders manifest, and these are regular, everyday, ordinary people that are just like you and me and are struggling.”

Anita Haupt, a 2008 Creighton graduate, is a day-program specialist at OMNI’s Eating Disorder Clinic. The day program, which runs from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and includes group therapy, education and community activities, attracts a variety of people with a range of eating disorders, Haupt said.

“We get all ranges of clientele. We get students, moms, sisters, daughters – anyone can struggle with it,” she said. “We get male clients as well.”

Clients at the clinic meet regularly with a licensed mental-health practitioner and a licensed dietitian to set treatment goals and work to follow through with them, Feyen said.

“We have a lot of people that are experiencing difficulty with eating and maintaining their weight – either they’re very overweight or underweight – and are trying to come up with some sense of normal,” Feyen said. “They’re trying to work through whatever behavioral problems they’re having but also any mental health issues.”

The Eating Disorder Clinic offers treatment for people diagnosed with the two most common eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, but it also has services and treatment options for binge-eating, weight loss and unspecified eating disorders.

“There’s anorexia, which is people who are very underweight and basically are not eating. And then bulimia, which is the bingeing and purging of food,” Feyen said.

“The third type is called ‘eating disorder NOS,’ or not otherwise specified, but it really is more individuals who are struggling with binge-eating – overeating that is really related to people and how they cope with dealing with their emotions and their fears and eating more food than most would eat at a given setting.”

Dr. Amy Badura Brack, associate professor of psychology, said there is a multitude of possible causes of eating disorders, including societal pressure and learning from someone you know – often a mother or friend – who exercises unhealthy eating habits.

“It’s essentially behavioral. You couldn’t have an eating disorder unless you acted on a behavior.”

Eating disorders are often associated with low self-esteem and depression, Badura Brack said.

“Bulimia is associated with some other kinds of compulsive behaviors, whereas anorexia is more associated with perfectionism and control. Both of them can be associated with depression, either as a potential cause or as an outcome – starvation leads biochemically to depression.”

Badura Brack said people who are extremely rigid about their diet or cut out food groups may be at risk for disordered eating.

“A healthy diet might focus on making good food choices, picking from all the different food groups, considering portion,” she said. “However, if you start to eliminate food groups, if you start to excessively reduce calories, if you start to feel very rigid and obsessive about your dieting, then that may signal disordered eating.”

Eating disorders are unlike other psychological conditions because they’re consistent with how the person wants to be, Badura Brack said. This can make treatment difficult because they’re not motivated to change.

“With things like depression or anxiety – nobody likes feeling that way, so they want help and they would like to change,” Badura Brack said. “Eating disorders are somewhat treatment resistant because people are oftentimes not interested in changing their behavior.”

Badura Brack and Feyen said eating disorders are prevalent on college campuses.

“I think everyone probably knows someone who has an eating disorder or has seen someone that they’ve had some concerns about, so I think [OMNI’s candlelight vigil] is a great opportunity for people to get some education about that,” Feyen said.