The college environment presents unique challenges for those struggling with eating disorders. Between the social pressures, academic stress, overwhelming diet culture on campus, or just maintaining recovery. Seeking help can feel overwhelming but you’re not alone in this journey. There are many ways to protect your well-being while pursuing your college education.
Walk through any college campus and you’ll hear it: conversations about “freshman fifteen,” discussions of not eating before weekend parties so you don’t look bloated in your outfit or to be a “cheap date”, or casual comments about skipping or forgetting meals due to studying or classes.
Diet culture has become so normalized in college settings that we often don’t recognize how deeply it affects our relationship with food and our bodies.
The dining hall can feel like a battlefield. There’s the unspoken pressure of eating in public, watching what others choose, and dealing with comments about food choices. Food can easily shift from being a basic necessity of life to a significant source of anxiety.
If you’re dealing with an eating disorder in college, your experience is legitimate and deserving of support. The transition to college life is already so challenging – managing recovery or confronting disordered eating patterns during this time takes immense strength. We’re proud of you!
Your worth isn’t determined by your meal choices, your exercise routine, or your body size. You deserve to take up space on campus, to nourish yourself, and to prioritize your health – mental and physical – above societal pressures.
Here are some important eating disorder insights from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders:
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that often surface during transitional times, making college students particularly vulnerable. Here’s a closer look at the most common eating disorders among college students:
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restrictive eating, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. Students with anorexia may severely limit food intake, obsess over body weight, and engage in compulsive exercise or other behaviors to control their weight. Anorexia has one of the highest mortality rates of any mental health disorder, making early intervention critical.
Bulimia nervosa involves a cycle of bingeing and purging. Students with bulimia may consume large amounts of food in a short period (binging) and then engage in behaviors like vomiting, using laxatives, or excessive exercise (purging) to counteract the intake. Feelings of shame and guilt often accompany these behaviors, leaving students trapped in a harmful cycle.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States. It involves consuming large amounts of food in a short time while feeling a loss of control. Unlike bulimia, there are no purging behaviors, which can lead to feelings of shame and guilt.
Orthorexia is an obsession with “clean” or “healthy” eating. While not officially classified as an eating disorder in the DSM-5, orthorexia can cause significant distress and lead to restrictive eating behaviors that disrupt a student’s ability to maintain a healthy relationship with food. This condition is often tied to perfectionism and low self-esteem, common traits among students at higher risk of developing eating disorders.
Drunkorexia is a non-medical term used to describe the practice of skipping meals or severely restricting food intake to “save calories” for drinking alcohol, It’s particularly prevalent on college campuses, where binge drinking and eating less is often normalized. Drunkorexia poses significant health risks, including:
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of eating disorders is essential for early intervention. While each eating disorder is unique, there are common warning signs to look out for:
If you or someone you know is showing these signs, it’s important to seek help from a trusted healthcare provider.
The line between disordered eating and eating disorders can be blurry, but here are the key differences:
Disordered eating refers to unhealthy eating patterns that may not meet the clinical criteria for an eating disorder. This includes behaviors like skipping meals, over-exercising, or avoiding certain foods or food groups. Many college students engage in disordered eating behaviors due to academic pressure, social influences, or a desire to fit in. While these behaviors may seem “normal” in a diet-obsessed culture, they can lead to significant physical and emotional harm over time.
Eating disorders are clinically diagnosable mental health conditions listed in the DSM-5 (which is problematic in itself, but that’s an entirely different blog post). These include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and others. Unlike disordered eating, eating disorders involve a specific set of diagnostic criteria, such as the frequency and severity of symptoms, and they often require intensive treatment.
Regardless of whether you’re dealing with disordered eating or an eating disorder, your struggles are valid, and you deserve support. Help is available no matter the severity of your experience, and seeking it is a brave and important step toward healing.
College is a time of growth, change, and challenge, but it also comes with unique pressures that can contribute to the development of eating disorders. While the exact causes of eating disorders vary from person to person, several factors commonly intersect during the college years:
The pressure to excel academically, meet deadlines, and maintain scholarships can lead to heightened stress. For some students, controlling food intake becomes a way to cope with feelings of being overwhelmed.
College life often includes social environments that promote diet culture and body comparison. Comments about weight, appearance, or the “freshman fifteen” can create or worsen body image concerns, making students more vulnerable to disordered eating behaviors.
From fitness challenges to detox teas in the dorms, college campuses are often steeped in diet culture. The normalization of restrictive eating, over-exercising, or skipping meals can make unhealthy behaviors seem acceptable, even encouraged.
College can be an emotionally intense time. Feelings of loneliness, homesickness, or low self-esteem may lead students to use food—or the restriction of it—as a way to regain control or cope with difficult emotions.
For some students, pre-existing conditions like perfectionism, low self-esteem, or a family history of eating disorders can increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder. Additionally, students with anxiety or depression may be at a higher risk.
Moving away from home, adjusting to new routines, and managing newfound independence can feel destabilizing. This shift can leave students more vulnerable to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including disordered eating.
Recovery doesn’t have to mean isolation. Consider:
Managing recovery while balancing college life requires practical approaches:
You can be part of creating positive change:
Recovery isn’t linear, and that’s okay. College is a time of growth and change, and your journey with food and body image may have ups and downs. What matters is continuing to move forward, seeking support when needed, and remembering that you deserve to experience college life fully, without the constraints of disordered eating.
You’re not alone in this journey. Whether you’re in recovery, struggling, or supporting someone else, remember that healing is possible, even during the challenging college years. Take each day as it comes, celebrate small victories, and know that choosing recovery is an act of courage that deserves recognition and support.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with an eating disorder or are concerned about your eating habits, your health and well-being are worth prioritizing. Take the first step toward recovery today—book a call with us here.
My name is Gabby Waldman and I am an intern for A Soft Place to Land Nutrition. I am super excited about going into the nutrition field because I want to help individuals navigate the complexities of disordered eating and how to cultivate a peaceful relationship with food. I want to become a voice for anyone who struggles with eating disorders because oftentimes their struggles go unseen or are misunderstood. I will be heading to Drexel University in the Fall of 2025 to complete my masters degree of Nutrition & Dietetics while also completing my Dietetic Internship. I am very fortunate to have been apart of this practice and would not be where I am today without Megan and her team!
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