Students, faculty and staff at Cal State Northridge will explore the issues surrounding societal pressures for a perfect body at the university's ninth annual observance of Eating Disorders Awareness Week later this month.

The week kicks off with a "Mind, Body and Spirit Fair," from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

"The fair is designed not only to raise awareness about eating disorders, but to give women and men a day to pamper themselves and to escape the stress of everyday life," said Ellen Mayer, a counselor at CSUN's University Counseling Services and coordinator of the week's events.

The day will feature a variety of free activities including massages, henna tattoos, psychic readings, aroma therapy, balloon animals, a character artist, a relaxing tea corner, and resource and information booths with tips on food, weight and eating disorders.

Mayer pointed out that society's obsession with weight loss, exercise and appearance can all too quickly start a vicious cycle of body dissatisfaction, extreme dieting and obsessive exercise that can lead to a life-threatening eating disorder.

She said the week's goal, centered on the theme "Get Real," is to provide people with information and resources where they can get help.

The week's other activities:

• Author Leigh Cohn will talk about the concerns and conflicts with food, weight, shape and appearance for both men and women from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Like his book, Making Weight: Men's Concerns with Food, Weight, Shape and Appearance, Cohn's presentation will take a fast-moving look at the pressures men and women face to be thin and buff in today's society.

• Cohn will lead a question and answer discussion, "Everything You've Wanted to Know About Eating Disorders, but Never Asked!" from 11 a.m. to noon on Feb. 24 in the Grand Salon.

• A discussion, "Eating Disorders: Beyond Dieting," will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Pieza De Rocha Room of the Satellite Student Union at the corner of Zelzah Avenue and Lassen Street. Participants will talk about the causes and symptoms of eating disorders and how to help yourself or a friend who may be suffering.

• Nutritionist and body image specialist Sheri Barke will lead a discussion, "Body Talk: Freeing Yourself from Food and Weight Obsessions," from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Grand Salon. Barke will talk about dieting, media influences and body image, health fitness and body acceptance.

• The films "Dying to be Thin" and "Eating Disorders" will be screened from 1 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 25 in room 112 of Sequoia Hall near the center of the campus.

• A multimedia presentation, "Fat Brain, Skinny Body," will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26. Comedienne/actress Michelle Garb will talk frankly about anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating disorders.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week has been taking place on college campuses across the country for more than a decade as a way of shedding light on the problem and providing treatment options.

For more information about the week or the related events scheduled at Cal State Northridge, call University Counseling Services at (818) 677-2366 or visit the Web site www.csun.edu/counseling/jade.html.