College and dismantling control: How eating disorders are prevalent in the student demographic

According to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, an estimated 8 million Americans struggle with an eating disorder.

Without access to resources, time, trying not to overspend, or healthy food alternatives, many students will experience changes and struggles with their diets in college.

College can, and often, present students with a chaotic lifestyle, leading to large amounts of stress, potentially affecting the student’s relationship with food.

According to the Child Mind Institute, 10-20% of women and 4-10% of men begin to experience symptoms of eating disorders in college.

Many students experience something referred to as “the freshman 15.”

The reported phenomenon is in reference to weight gain experienced by many students in their first year of school. This may spur from not having access to a healthy diet, especially if they are a resident student reliant on the university cafeteria or local fast-food restaurants.

This can, however, lead to early symptoms of disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

“Eating disorders develop when the need to feel control over a stressful environment is channeled through food restriction, over-exercise, and an unhealthy focus on body weight,” reported Rae Jacobson, author of the “Eating Disorders and College” article on the Child Mind Institute page.

The article distinguished the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders. Disordered eating can range from following trending diets and restricting certain foods that contain “fats, dairy, or gluten,” and more. Other “manifestations” of disordered eating include “over-exercising, abusing laxatives, binging, or purging,” which Jacobson clarifies that while serious, don’t quite meet the eating disorder criteria.

An eating disorder, rather, is the sustained behavior of these manifestations, “becoming dangerous, all-consuming and unmanageable,” she wrote.

Jacobson quoted Dr. Bunnell, who stated, “There is a woeful lack of awareness about how serious these disorders are,” says Dr. Bunnell. Eating disorders can lead to death in severe cases, as the disorder becomes uncontrollable to the student.

If an individual is struggling with these symptoms, contact the University’s counseling center by calling 803-641-3609 Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm or 1-877-648-9900 after hours.