Eating Disorders and College Students

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Eating disorders are an issue many people face, they affect all people regardless of race, gender, or sexuality and can lead to life threatening medical issues and in some cases suicide.
Types of Eating Disorders
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) there are three common eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia is where a person will barely eat while bulimia is binge eating or over-eating and then throwing up, taking laxatives, or excessive exercising. Lastly, binge eating disorder is where a person isn’t able to stop themselves from over-eating.
Symptoms:
According to the NIMH the symptoms of anorexia nervosa are barely eating, being very thin, and having a fear of gaining weight. Over time anorexia can lead to Osteoporosis, organ failure, constipation, dry skin, damage to the heart, brain damage, hair breakage, brittle nails, anemia, and more. Symptoms of bulimia include tooth decay, chronic sore throat, and dehydration. Bulimia can lead to stomach issues, acid reflux, and electrolyte imbalance, which can cause serious damage to organs. The symptoms of binge eating disorder are eating past the point of being full, which can cause a variety of stomach and other health problems.
Warning Signs
Some things to look for if you think someone you know may have anorexia is if they talk about themselves being overweight even if they are very thin, if they are constantly weighing their selves, if they don’t eat, or eat very little during the day. Warning signs of bulimia are eating large quantities of food in one sitting, then working out more than usual, using laxatives more than usual, fast for long periods of time, and/or throwing up after every meal. Some things to look out for if you suspect someone may be suffering from binge-eating disorder is if they eat a large quantity of food in one sitting, eat extremely fast, eat until they are uncomfortable, or feel embarrassed about eating.
On-Campus Resources
You can also receive more information from a registered dietitian at the CSULB Health Resource Center at (562) 985-4609 or contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (562) 985-4001 for more information. There are many off campus resources in the area, which you can be referred to for inpatient and outpatient treatment. Treatment is not always a straight line and often requires the help of therapists, registered dietitians, and doctors. A great resource for more information is the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). Check their website for more information: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
References:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) - https:/
/www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml#part_145412
By Jerome Livsey-Herd

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