College Health:
Eating Disorders
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What should I know about eating disorders?
Some girls come to college with an eating disorder and some develop an eating disorder while at college. The two most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
People who starve themselves and lose an extreme amount of weight suffer from anorexia nervosa. People with anorexia think they are overweight, even though they may not be, and continue to think they are overweight even when they get to be very thin. Starvation can cause harm to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Nails, hair, and bones can become brittle; the skin can become dry and sometimes becomes yellow or covered with soft hair. Menstrual periods can become irregular or stop.
People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food (also called bingeing) and then vomit (also called purging) or exercise compulsively. Because many people that "binge and purge" maintain their body weight, they may keep their problem a secret for years. Vomiting can cause loss of important minerals, life-threatening heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), teeth damage, and swelling of the throat. Menstrual periods can also become irregular with bulimia.
If you know someone with an eating disorder, the best thing you can do is give support and encouragement. Urge the person to get help and be persistent. There are usually treatment programs at the counseling center at your college. Read up on eating disorders, so you can help the person with the eating disorder understand her/his problem. If you develop an eating disorder, go for help! Go to your college counseling center and your primary health care provider and talk to your family and friends. Going for help and talking to others about your illness can be very difficult, but it is the only way that you are going to get better.
Click here for more information on Eating Disorders.
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Updated 6/12/2001
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