MiTalk.org: Mental Health Issues on Campus: Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical or mental health care advice.

Did you know?

What’s on this page:

› Did You Know...
› An Invisible Epidemic
› What do you mean by “Disordered Eating”?
› When to Get Help
› What Do You Think?

How to help yourself

Practice deconstructing and Breaking the DIEting Cycle (Requires Adobe Reader)
Eat regularly — otherwise your body will be set up to be over-hungry, which can lead to binging later and/or to altered thinking
Avoid comparing yourself to others; push aside critical self-talk
Avoid reflection staring (in windows, mirrors, etc.)
Learn to “tune in” to your body’s cues for hunger and fullness
Be comfortable with food as necessary fuel and at times a source of pleasure
Recognize the importance of overall health and a healthy balance of diet and exercise

How to help a friend

Helping a friend with a battle that feels personal to them can be a difficult task, but it is important to remember, you could save their life. If you feel you know someone displaying disordered eating behaviors, or an unhealthy body image, do something: say something. It could be exactly the help that they need.

Say something — eating disorders are often a cry for help
Be supportive.
Focus on the accomplishments of your friend — what are the things that make your friend great outside of their appearance? This will improve their self esteem and self image.
Get support for yourself — supporting someone suffering from an eating disorder or even just disordered eating, can be very stressful. It is important to remember that it is not your responsibility to fix the problem, and talk to someone like a counselor if you need to.

It is estimated that 25–31% of U-M students engage in disordered eating behaviors
6% of people struggling with eating disorders will not survive.
A dramatically increasing number of men suffer from eating disorders and body image issues.
Early detection of disordered eating and body image issues greatly increase the success of treatment.

An Invisible Epidemic

One of the most common, yet least discussed, issues facing college men and women is disordered eating. While the habits associated with disordered eating may not be severe enough to warrant the label of an “eating disorder,” they are still serious and have the potential to be very harmful. Many practices that most people consider normal are actually symptoms of disordered eating.

To complicate matters further, different habit patterns could signal different types of eating and body image disorders. Although technically different disorders, all are serious and all deserve attention and support.

What do you mean by “disordered eating”?

Most people falling victim to eating disorders do not realize their behavior follows disordered eating patterns. Examples include:

Feeling guilty when you eat
Comparing your eating habits to those around you
Defining your self-worth based on how you’ve eaten that day
Socially isolating yourself based on perceived weight and/or appearance problems (not going out or not joining friends to meals, or avoiding them during meal times)
Turning to weight and food obsessions or exercise to fix other issues
Over-exercising to make up for food eaten
Blaming social problems on weight and food issues.*

Disordered eating can come and go, and can be very difficult to identify. If any of the above examples sound like you, talking to someone can prevent more severe problems from forming.

* This list was identified by undergraduate students involved in SHARE, a peer health student group at the University of Michigan who are concerned about the unspoken epidemic of eating disorders they have experienced and witnessed among their peers.

Also Note

Eating disorders can be perpetuated by other complex factors, such as threatening/stressful relationships, experiencing sexual violence or assault, or living with a chronic condition such as in the case of diabulimia in people with Type I Diabetes.

When to Get Help

If you think that you or someone you know might be struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, or negative body image issues of any kind, there are resources available to you for support.

For a list of resources available to you, please go to Disordered Eating and Body Image Resources or Campus Specific Resources.

Remember: Dealing with body image and self-esteem is a life-long process. You are stronger than your disorder; you can take back control over your emotions, and life. Don’t stop trying to understand and accept the wonderful person that you are!

You are not alone, we are here to help!

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MiTalk.org: Mental Health Issues On Campus