Eating Disorders and College Students: Myths and Facts

By Zoe Hynes, Senior Peer Health Advocate

Eating Disorders on college campuses

Eating disorders are mental illnesses that affect over 28.8 million people in the United States at some point in their lives (NEDA, 2023). Additionally, these illnesses are exceedingly present in college populations due to the age of onset. For anorexia and bulimia nervosa the median age of onset is 18 years old and for binge eating disorder it is 21 years old (Hudson, Hiripi, Pope & Kessler, 2007), the years that many people are enrolled at a university. A 2013 survey by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) saw that women and men in college experience eating disorders at a rate of between 10-20% and 4-10% respectively (NEDA, 2013).

Myths

Despite being so common among college students and the general population, a myriad of myths exist surrounding eating disorders. The following and more myths are highlighted on the National Eating Disorders Association website, “Busting the myths about eating disorders” (NEDA, 2018).

Eating disorders are a choice.
1. This is false. Eating disorders, as with other mental illnesses, are complicated illnesses that arise from a variety of factors. This includes genetic, biological, environmental, and social causes. Just as a person does not choose to experience anxiety or depression, one does not choose to have an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are not that serious.
1. Due to their high prevalence, eating disorders can often be assumed to be of little consequence to the individual. Especially dangerous is the idea that since lots of people are engaging in disordered behaviors, it must not be harmful to do so. In reality, of all psychiatric illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. These illnesses take an immense toll on the person’s physical body and mental wellness. Those with eating disorders are at higher risk of suicide, as well as risks for osteoporosis, hearts attacks, and electrolyte imbalances.
Eating disorders only affect certain populations.
1. Common belief, often perpetuated by portrayals in the media, asserts that eating disorders are illnesses of young, thin, white, and affluent women. While this population can and certainly does experience eating disorders, these illnesses affect people of all ages, sizes, genders, races, and socioeconomic status. According to NEDA, there have been an increasing number of male or nonbinary people seeking eating disorder support, and these illnesses can develop and re-emerge at any age.

Understanding and being able to identify these myths is an important step to understanding if you or someone you know needs help. If you are interested in learning more about the myths discussed here or other misconceptions about eating disorders, you can do so on the NEDA website. To learn more about eating disorders and National Eating Disorders Awareness week, you can visit the HPO Instagram page. Interested in learning about cultivating a more positive body image? Consider signing up for the 4-week evidence-based program, The Body Project. It will begin on March 14th and run for four weeks from 4-5 PM in the UHS 4th floor RAM Room. You can learn more and sign up on CCC.

Need Help?

The following warning signs and symptoms can help you identify when it may be time to reach out for support. Eating disorder symptoms can include: preoccupation with weight, food, or dieting, appearing uncomfortable eating around others, skipping meals, withdrawal from friends and activities, extreme concern with body size, noticeable weight fluctuations, menstrual irregularities, constantly feeling cold, gastrointestinal complaints, and more (NEDA, 2021).

If you or someone you know may be struggling with an eating disorder, reach out to the following resources:

UCC Emergency On-Call 24/7: (585) 275-3113
NEDA Helpline:
- Call: (800) 931-2237 Monday—Thursday 11am—9pm ET, Friday 11am—5pm ET, Translation services are available on the phone.
- Crisis Text Line: If you are in a crisis and need help immediately, text “NEDA” to 741741 to be connected with a trained volunteer at Crisis Text Line. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message to individuals who are struggling with mental health, including eating disorders, and are experiencing crisis situations.
Public Safety: (585) 275-3333

References:

Collegiate survey project – national eating disorders. (2013). Eating Disorders on the College

Campus. National Eating Disorders Association.

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/CollegeSurvey/CollegiateSurv

eyProject.pdf

Eating disorders awareness week. (2023). National Eating Disorders Association.

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eatingdisordersawarenessweek#collaborators

Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., Jr, & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates

of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological

psychiatry, 61(3), 348–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.040

National Eating Disorders Association. (2018, February 22). Busting the myths about eating

disorders. NEDA.

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/busting-myths-about-eating-disorders

National Eating Disorders Association. (2021, July 14). Warning signs and symptoms. NEDA.

Retrieved March 1, 2023, from

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms