Across the United States, college students are returning to campus and preparing for the upcoming year. Freshman will get out their campus maps, and make their way to classrooms, dorm rooms and lunch rooms.
Some will worry about grades. Some will worry about appearance. And some will succumb to the stresses and pressures of their new environment, and will begin engaging in disordered eating.
For the college student who is away from home for the first time, the stress of moving into a totally different environment and meeting new people can make them more susceptible to developing an eating disorder, says University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Professor of Psychology Mary Boggiano, Ph.D., who fought her own battle against bulimia as a college student. [Source: Huntsville Examiner]
Students worried about gaining the mythical “Freshman 15” may resort to extreme behaviors to maintain or lose weight. The risk of developing an eating disorder isn’t limited to freshman, however. A student of any age or rank can struggle with body image, weight and disordered behaviors.
Labels: college_students, causes of eating disorders, stress
Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton
