Eating disorders are very serious. They have an impact on both mental and physical health. Left untreated, they can be fatal. An eating disorder is a physical disorder that typically has some type of underlying emotional cause. People develop eating disorders as a way of dealing with the conflicts, pressures, and stresses of their lives. Their eating disorders may be used as a way to express control when the rest of life seems out of control.
Eating Disorders and Colllege Students
College students are under a tremendous amount of stress that can make one feel like life is out of control. Pressure from parents, peers, professors, and one’s self can build up and become hard to control. College girls tend to be more likely to have an eating disorder compared to college guys.
Types of Eating Disorders
- Anorexia Nervosa – self-imposed starving
- Bulimia Nervosa – out of control eating, followed by vomiting, using laxatives, or over exercising
- Binge Eating Disorder – compulsive overeating
Anorexia Warning Signs for College Students
- Student’s body image is distorted. They are thin but feel fat
- Student complains about feeling full or sick, even when eating small or normal amounts of food
- Student is thin and continues to lose weight (more than 15% of ideal body weight)
- Student checks their weight often
- Student restricts foods from their diet even though they are already thin
- Student denies being hungry
- Student starts to loose hair or hair starts to thin
- Student exercises at a level of obsession
- Female students stop menstruating
Eating Disorder Quizzes
- Eating Disorder Quiz: Do I Respect My Body?
- Eating Disorder Quiz: Do you have a healthy relationship with food?
National Eating Disorder Organizations
- AABA (American Anorexia/Bulimia Association)
- ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
- ANRED (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.)
- EDAP (Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention)
- IAEDP (International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals)
- NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance)
- NEDO (National Eating Disorders Association)