Eating Disorder Awareness

You may not have seen your student in the last few months.  You wait with excitement to see your loved one come through the door.  You embrace your child and a wave of concern comes over you as you feel a skeletal structure or perhaps notice a fuller body than you remembered. Maybe there is no difference in body size, but as the visit goes on you notice your loved one seems distracted or withdrawn.  An extraordinary amount of time is spent watching fitspiration videos or influencers on social media providing limitless fitness and nutrition advice.  Your son or daughter is preoccupied with eating in a certain way or is exercising for hours every day.  You notice that every time your child eats, there is an immediate trip to the bathroom or perhaps your loved one seems to eat very little during the day, but you wake to find large quantities of food missing from the pantry and wrappers and dishes in your child’s bedroom. 

Could your son or daughter have an eating disorder or disordered eating?  College years can be a risky time for the development of eating disorders.  This is often the first time these young adults are responsible for feeding themselves.  They are navigating campus life and may be struggling to find where they fit or belong.  Negative body image messages on campus and on social media are pervasive and impactful.  The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) reports 1 in 4 people suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.  The typical age of onset is between 18 and 21.  There are several types of eating disorders that range from restrictive eating to binge eating with possible purging, laxative use or over-exercising.  Disordered eating is sometimes driven by the desire to have a perfect or “clean” diet.  It is important to know that eating disorders can be present in any sized body.  Eating behaviors and attitudes about food can be more telling than body size or weight.

If you feel your loved one may be struggling, early intervention is key.  Express your concerns openly and honestly without judgment. Offer to find support and guidance for your student. The NEDA website, www.eatingdisorderawareness.org  provides helpful information and resources.  Support on campus includes nutrition counseling (520-621-6483), Counseling and Psych services (520-621-3334), Medical (520-621-9202), College Eating Disorder Awareness and Recovery group (CEDAR) and Body Positive Arizona programming, www.nutrition.arizona.edu.  For additional parent support visit www.parentsmatter.health.arizona.edu.