Navigating College With an Eating Disorder
Posted on: August 1st, 2018
Unfortunately, people are most vulnerable to developing an eating disorder during their college years. According to the Collegiate Survey Project conducted by the National Eating Disorder Association, “Full-blown eating disorders typically begin between 18 and 21 years of age. Although some students will experiment with dieting and escape unscathed, 35 percent of “normal” dieters progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20 – 25 percent progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders.”
These statistics make sense when you consider the intense pressures college students endure: living away from parents, making new friends, a loss of personal space and privacy, adjusting to a different environment with new routines, striving for academic excellence, exposure to drugs and alcohol, and the abundance and accessibility of unfamiliar foods. Even the healthiest students can find college overwhelming, so it’s understandable that those with developing or full-blown eating disorders experience a worsening of their condition.
Once eating issues are identified the best approach is early intervention with an appropriate plan. Ideally, steps can be taken before the sufferer departs for their first or next semester. If they are underweight a normal weight should be restored before they go. They should also be able to eat with minimal supervision in a variety of settings. Eating disorder behaviors such as bingeing, purging, and overexercising should be under control. (A student with anorexia nervosa should have been eating properly and independently for at least six months prior to going away to college.) In short, if the parent has any doubt that their child is in a good psychological or physical state they should strongly encourage them to wait.
Once the student is ready to start or return to college try the following to prevent relapse:
- Plan for regular visits: Face time is key. Parents should schedule frequent visits or the student should come home once every two weeks if possible. Resist the impulse to visit the campus every weekend as you don’t want to be overbearing.
- Work with a college counselor or outpatient team: These services are accessible to students, and in some cases there are staff right on site who specialize in eating disorder treatment. Work with them to determine what measures should be put into place for your child, whether it’s weekly weigh-ins or vitals. Set up the first appointment before your child leaves home.
- Create a meal plan: Study the on-campus food options and based on that work with a dietitian to create a customized meal plan for your child. Make sure the ingredients/foods are easily accessible. Requiring them to shop off campus might cause them to go off plan.
- Monitor grades: Eating disorders can have a profound impact on academic performance. Obviously grade point average isn’t the only factor, but it is often a strong indicator of well being. A significant dip in grades can be a red flag, but so can a significant rise in grades. Check with the college to see if ongoing status reports (more frequently than end of the semester grades) are an option. Also, routinely ask your child what they’re working on and follow up on the results.
- Designate a peer ambassador: If possible, identify someone on campus (your child’s roommate, close friend or resident advisor) who can provide you with regular updates on how your child is faring in general. They don’t need to watch over every meal or follow your child to the bathroom. Don’t hide this from your child either; make it known you’re in contact and why it’s in their best interest.
- Most of all, trust them. This is crucial. Unless they’ve violated it, they deserve your trust. It’s not easy at times, but if your child knows you trust them, your relationship will be stronger in the long run.
If you or someone you love is suffering with an eating disorder seek professional help immediately. Contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy at 973-313-1691 or info@maureenkritzerlange.com.
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