Academic Pressure, Social Comparison Contribute to Development of Eating Disorders

Alsana experts find that while the freedom of campus life is exhilarating for many students, college represents a perfect storm of potentially triggering situations for others, particularly for those with a history of eating disorders. Parents and loved ones can support their students' mental health and well-being by educating themselves about school-related challenges and common eating disorder triggers.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), between 10% and 20% of female college students, and between 4% and 10% of male college students have an eating disorder. Other research suggests a prevalence of eating disorders among LGBTQ+ students and adults.

“Many disordered eating behaviors are normalized on college campuses, where students compare themselves to others while also managing their academics and part-time jobs,” said Julia Cassidy, MS, RD, CEDRD-S, vice president of clinical nutrition services at Alsana. “Parents should look for red flags in their young adults, such as using homework, classes or a job as justification for consistently missing meals.”

Comments about college weight gain, such as the freshman 15, are not as harmless as they may seem. They reinforce dangerous stigmas around body size and health that can cause individuals with complex relationships with body image and food to relapse into disordered eating patterns.

Knowing the signs of an eating disorder and seeking treatment for your young adult early can lead to a long-lasting recovery.

About Alsana

Alsana is an eating recovery community with in-person Residential and PHP/IOP programs in Alabama, California, and Missouri, Virtual PHP/IOP offerings across the United States. Their approach to eating disorder treatment is compassionate, evidence-based, and designed in alignment with the Adaptive Care Model®. This holistic method addresses healing in all areas of clients’ lives by integrating medical, nutritional, and therapeutic care with movement and relational therapies. Alsana serves adult clients of all genders and sexual identities struggling with a broad spectrum of eating, feeding, and co-occurring disorders. Alsana’s programs accommodate the unique needs of vegan clients and clients struggling with ED-DMT1, also known as “diabulimia.” For additional information, visit www.alsana.com.

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