College & Eating Disorders, Pt. 1: Why Eating Disorders Develop in College
There is no good time to be diagnosed with an eating disorder.
They cause disruption, stress, and require a lot of time and energy. Mix into that college- grades, new friendships, exams, living alone for the first time, school meal plans, walking all over campus, partying and you can have a high risk situation on your hands. Many families I work with are in this position so I thought it would be a good time to discuss eating disorders in college students. This 3 part series will cover 1) Why eating disorders develop in college years, 2) To Delay or Not to Delay, & 3) A Return to College Contract.
If you have a college student in Ohio and you are concerned about their eating habits and looking for eating disorder treatment in Ohio, please click here. to schedule a free consultation call. I can work with students and families throughout Ohio virtually, so that even when you aren’t in the same space, you can still connect with your young adult.
Why Eating Disorders Develop in College
In most cases, teens go away to college, whether that be near or far, and it is the first time they are living independently of their immediate family. They are entering adulthood and with that, a lot of changes. They no longer have parents to supervise their decisions or implement rules. They don’t have siblings to talk with. There aren’t neighbors and family friends watching over them all over town. It is a completely new and independent lifestyle and it is an important part of development. Teens begin to test out their independence and try to create their own boundaries and explore their identity. They may push the limits more than they did in high school, with no one to tell them no. They may make new friends- some of these relationships with be wonderful and lifelong and some of them may be negative influences. It is all part of the learning and developing experience.
During this boundary testing phase, teens are free to develop romantic relationships without the constraints of high school gossip and parental supervision. The focus on relationships can increase a focus on appearance and self-image. There is freedom to dress how you want without high school dress codes or parents approval as you walk out the door. There is access to a gym, almost 24/7. If they are no longer playing sports, it can be an experience to figure out how movement will fit into their new life and who they are without their hobby. OR they may be involved in collegiate athletic activities which require a lot of focus on exercise, diet and body image. All of this new focus and freedom to make their own choices can be dangerous when combined with societal messaging about “The Freshman Fifteen”. The myth (disproven by research) that when going to college, freshman gain 15 lbs. In a society that demonizes weight gain and puts enormous pressure on young people to be thin and “beautiful” that “freshman 15” can be terrifying. Teens may begin to exercise in order to avoid this feared weight gain. There is also the addition of binge drinking- which comes with a lot of “calories”. College students can sometimes worry about the calories they are consuming while drinking and restrict their food intake to “make up for it” (this does NOT work). It is SO unsafe to drink on an empty stomach and can lead to a slew of other scary problems.
On the college campus, there can also be a new focus on “health” and what that means. From the cafeteria to the gym to classes, teenagers are getting messages about what foods to choose and what it means to be healthy. Those predisposed to an eating disorder by genetics, can take those thoughts to an extreme level that becomes unhealthy. And no one is there to stop them or monitor what or how much your teens is eating. You often won’t see your teen until Holiday Break. Many parents have shared with me that this was the first time they became concerned. They noticed something was different in appearance and in the way they approached food. “But not enough to say or do anything”. And before you know it, they are off to school for another 3 months, out of your sight.
The freedom of choice and independence combined with social pressure to date and “fit in” as well as the new independence with food and exercise choices can be a set up for development of an eating disorder.
Your teen will have more food choices than ever before- multiple places to eat with multiple options at each. Much different from parents plating one dinner each night. They also are busy with schoolwork and it can be easy to skip breakfast and lunch. It is no longer scheduled into their day as it was in high school and it falls solely on them to remember to feed themselves and make the effort to do it. For someone with anxiety or OCD, this can be a difficult and overwhelming task that takes a lot of energy and decision making and it happens 3 times a day! Dining halls can have too many choices which can be immobilizing when it comes to picking a meal- then add in all the information about what’s “Healthy” and what’s not- Overwhelming!
Another difficulty teens may have with the dining halls is -who to eat with? If they haven’t made friends right away, your teen may not want to go to the dining hall alone because they feel anxious about eating alone or about other’s watching them. Even if they have made friends, with busy class schedules, they may not always have someone to go to eat with. Many teens will avoid going to the dining hall alone and instead have something in their room or nothing at all. Food in their room is usually not sufficient for a meal.
All of these risk factors at college are not meant to scare you, they are meant to educate you on what your teen may be facing. They are meant to be a discussion point and things you can ask questions about. For example, here are some questions to ask your college student:
• Are you eating lunch with anyone? What do you usually have for lunch?
• I heard you mention the gym, I’m curious about your workouts? Are you taking a rest day?
• How is your meal plan going? Do you have enough to eat? Is it hard to decide what to eat with all those options?
• Is there diet talk around campus? Are people in your dorm worried about their weight or size? Is there anyone you are worried about?
• How are your roommates doing? Are they eating regularly? Do you go to the grocery store together? What do you buy?
Today, we talked about risk factors for developing eating disorders in college and why they often go unnoticed by parents for a long time. These points and questions can help you know what to ask about and what to look out for in your teen. In the follow up posts we will talk about what to do if your college student does have an eating disorder and how to approach it. If you have a child or teen in Ohio who is dealing with eating concerns, please visit my site to learn more about eating disorder treatment in Ohio. I provide virtual eating disorder therapy services from Columbus, Ohio and work with teens and young adults in college. I treat anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in adolescents in Ohio.
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This blog is intended to be educational and informational and does not substitute for professional medical and therapeutic help, which is highly recommended when treating an eating disorder. If you would like help treating your child’s eating issues or want to learn more, Schedule a free consultation call today.