Eating Disorder Recovery for College Students
Attending college or university can be one of the most life-changing, liberating times in one’s life. However, for individuals in recovery for an eating disorder, the thought of starting or returning to school can be intimidating and emotionally challenging. College brings a plethora of new changes and unfamiliar experiences that may prove to be difficult for even the most stable individuals in eating disorder recovery to manage in addition to treatment.
by: Enchi Dai
Symptoms of eating disorders are prevalent and persistent among college students. In one study, a random sample of 2,822 college students was recruited for an internet survey to measure their eating disorder symptoms. The results showed that the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms was as high as 13.5% for females and 3.6% for males (Eisenberg, Nicklett, Roeder, & Kirz, 2011). Discussing eating disorder recovery for college students is important for facilitating early detection and treatment intervention, especially under the circumstance where most schoolwork is now conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we are talking about the difficulties in maintaining recovery both on campus or at home for college students and tips to stay on track.
Maintaining Recovery on Campus
College students are under a lot of stress. The sources of stress can include changes in lifestyle, increased workload, new responsibilities, and interpersonal relationships. The recovery journey itself is also difficult and requires a great deal of time and effort. Individuals in recovery invest a significant amount of time toward meeting with therapists and dietitians regularly, attending various groups and programming, and following their treatment and meal plans. Balancing between school and treatment can be exhausting due to the constant time and energy constraints. If individuals are under too much stress both from college life and eating disorder recovery, they may develop other mental health problems such as anxiety or depression-like symptoms, making it even more difficult to maintain recovery.
Additionally, it can be challenging for college students to follow their meal plan or implement intuitive eating on campus. Students may have limited cooking space, access to groceries, and meal options, especially for those who live in dorms. As a result, it can be difficult for students in eating disorder recovery to eat consistently and appropriately.
Maintaining Recovery While Attending School Remotely
Due to the pandemic, a majority of schools and universities are offering online courses. Thus, many college students are “going to college” remotely at home to stay safe from the impact of the virus. Though the stress from schoolwork (e.g. essays, midterms, and finals) may not change, social interactions with friends or peers are limited, weakening the social support system during recovery. For some, staying home all day increases one’s accessibility to a variety of foods, some of which may be triggering. Having easy access to potentially triggering foods can make it harder to stay motivated in recovery.
Tips to help you stay on track in recovery:
Make plans beforehand: Make mealtimes a priority in your schedule by planning ahead and mapping them out in advance can be a good start. For students who go to class in person, it is important to make plans about what to bring to school, find out good dining places before school starts, and check the menu in campus cafeterias ahead of time. For students who attend class remotely, make a list of what to buy in the grocery store and decide when to buy them each week.
Focus on building a support system: Social support is one of the most important factors of eating disorder recovery. On campus, dining together with friends, opening up to them, and asking for their support can be great ways to strengthen this factor. At home, one can share concerns and goals with roommates or family members, asking for their support in the process.
Hold realistic expectations: Even with a detailed plan in place, nothing is guaranteed to go smoothly or according to plan. Sometimes, it might be hard to find time to eat (e.g. during finals week), other times, dinner invitations may conflict with your original plan. Be flexible, but don’t be afraid to reach out to your treatment team if you are uncertain about your plan. One thing to note is that there is no need to compare ourselves to others, especially to those on social media because what people portray online is not always the truth. Remember, no matter where you are in recovery, be gentle with yourself and take the time to recover.
If you suspect that you or someone you know may be struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, whether in school or not, now is the time to reach out for help! At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center, we treat the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. We offer a variety of virtual programs and services to help our clients not only reduce eating disorder symptoms but also move toward a more harmonious relationship with food and their bodies. Click the button below to browse our full selection of virtual programs & services.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Enchi Dai.
Enchi is a Bachelor's-Master's student at New York University, majoring in Psychology. After her recovery from disordered eating, Enchi became passionate about spreading ED awareness, advocating for intuitive eating, and promoting Health at Every Size. Enchi is also an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200). Her goal is to help people become healthier both physically and mentally, instead of encouraging them to pursue a certain body image. Along with her internship at BALANCE, Enchi works as a Research Assistant and Crisis Counselor to prepare herself for the future career as a Clinical/Counseling Psychologist.
References
Eisenberg, D., Nicklett, E. J., Roeder, K., & Kirz, N. E. (2011). Eating Disorder Symptoms Among College Students: Prevalence, Persistence, Correlates, and Treatment-Seeking. Journal of American College Health, 59(8), 700–707. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.546461