Writing in the Yale Daily News, student Elizabeth Deutsch expressed concern over the simultaneous prevalence of and silence surrounding eating disorders on the Yale campus, and called for increased openness about these potentially deadly disorders:

Eating disorders are linked to depression and obsessive thinking and behavior that can be stifling to the people who suffer from them; in this way, eating disorders drain life force from our campus, not only preventing us from being the healthy, balanced community we could be, but also keeping us from realizing our collective creative potential. ...

We live together, eat together and engage with each other constantly. The people in our community suffering from anorexia, bulimia or other forms of disordered eating are our friends and roommates, our classmates and colleagues. Yet as a collective community we don't seem to acknowledge the suffers in our midst or wonder why they might be suffering in higher numbers here. ...

Something has to give. Being more open as a community about the problem and having our administration acknowledge that members of its student body are suffering is a start.

Yale is far from the only school with this problem, as eating disorders among high school and college students are prevalent on campuses across the nation.

Labels: schools, students

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

A 2006 study conducted by the National Eating Disorders Association found that nearly one in five college students admitted to having suffered from an eating disorder. Despite this high number, though, few students ask for help.

Students' silence speaks to disordered thinking that characterizes the disease. "The nature of eating disorders ... is that there's a big period of denial," [Mary Commerford, director of Furman Counseling Center at Barnard] said. "Literally 'I'm doing this, it's normal, I don't have a problem.'" Source: Columbia (University) Spectator

Students who struggled with an eating disorder prior to college are especially at risk, because the added pressures of collegiate life make overcoming the disorders more difficult. Fear of their disorder becoming public also keeps many young disordered eaters from seeking help.

But getting help for an eating disorder can be as close as a confidential conversation with a counselor or an online discussion with an expert in the field. These simple steps can help a student get on the road to recovery and healthy living.

Labels: eating disorders, colleges, counseling, students

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

The Body Image Coalition held their second annual Jeans Drive during National Eating Disorders Week. The Coalition placed decorated boxes throughout the Cabrini (Penn.) College campus, where students could drop off their unwanted jeans.

"By organizing the Jeans Drive, [Andrea] Sussel and the rest of the BIC hoped to improve the self-esteem issues of college students by having them get rid of pairs of jeans that might just be sitting in the closet."

One of the main goals of the drive is to encourage students to appreciate their bodies, rather than wishing they fit into a smaller size jean. All jeans collected during the drive are donated to Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter in Norristown. Pa. Source: The Loquitur (college newspaper for Cabrini College)

Labels: colleges, students, body_image

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

McGill University in Montreal, Canada, attracts perfectionists - and staff dietician Monique Lauzon thinks that the school's high-pressure environment can cause relapses in students who have previously struggled with eating disorders.

"'It is possible [eating disorders] will develop associated with a competition over marks. Perfectionists are always looking at someone whose body is closer to perfection than one's own, and the residence environment tends to encourage that,' [Lauzon] said, adding that McGill attracts perfectionists given its high acceptance standards for prospective students."

Students - freshmen in particular - may revert back to disordered eating habits if they feel that some aspect of their academic career is out of their hands. They may not be able to control their grades, they think, but they can control their eating and weight. Source: The Muse (McGill Student Newspaper)

Labels: colleges, students

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Teens who eat dinners with their families are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables when they hit their twenties, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota. The study involved surveying 1500 people when they were in high school and again at age 20.

The 20-year-olds who ate evening meals with their families during adolescence had higher intakes of calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber, and drank fewer soft drinks. This study appears in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: family, students, healthy_eating

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

This coming weekend, two separate groups at Central Michigan University will host events aimed at raising both money and awareness for eating disorders.

"The Delta Phi Epsilon sorority is sponsoring a candlelight vigil, and the women's track team is hosting a Walk-a-Thon to raise money for [National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders] ANAD."

The goal of ANAD is to "alleviate the problems of eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa." Both of the events on the Central Michigan University campus are open to the public. Read more at CM-Life.com.

Labels: awareness, students

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

While eating disorders don't make sense to many, there are at least 5 million men, women, and children in the United States who regularly battle an eating disorder. New studies show that many teen athletes, and not just the girls, may suffer from eating disorders. Experts believe that a drive to excel in athletics, especially dancers, gymnasts, and wrestlers, puts some students at a greater risk of having an eating disorder.

But a new program at Viewmont High School in Salt Lake City, Utah has a program to combat the deadly disorder.

"At the start of the season, high school wrestlers are weighed, their body fat is measured and their hydration level is checked. Those numbers are then entered into a computer, which determines how much weight each student can lose safely. If the student loses more, they are not allowed to compete."

While the new program appears to be working for the male wrestlers, there is no such system in place yet for female-associated sports. Read more online.

Labels: students, teens, athletes

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Although the dreaded "Freshman 15" is really more like 4 or 5 pounds, health experts warn that co-eds don't go to extremes worrying about gaining a little weight while at college. Staying disciplined despite being tempted by loads of unhealthy food options can be difficult for many students. Finding balance and moderation can be another daunting task.

"Since beauty and weight are closely linked in our culture, the desire to be thin is an oppressive message that can foster eating disorders, says Ann Hoschler, director of Student Health & Counseling at Augustana College. She conducts 300 to 400 counseling sessions a year that focus on depression, eating issues, anxiety and family concerns... Reactions to tremendous life changes such as going to college can include anxiety, depression and weight fluctuationseither up or down."

There are so many issues teenagers face during their first year at college: freedom from parents, weird schedules, homesickness, changing bodies, and so on that it's not surprising many students gain or loose weight. Some colleges require students to take nutrition classes or ones on overall personal wellness. Read more from the Argus Leader.

Labels: media_influences, students, myths

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments