Why is disordered eating a big deal on college campuses?
Eating disorders and sub-threshold disordered eating is a severe problem across college campuses. In college, people may experience living independently for the fist time, managing their diet and nutrition on their own, feeling uncertain about their future and pressures from academic and social stressors. Western culture sets a beauty ideal that is unrealistic for the majority of people, and the Carleton community may unintentionally foster these expectations. When academic, social and athletic pressures are added to the mix, students may feel overwhelmed or lack confidence in their ability to meet the expectations, so turn to disordered eating in an attempt to fit the ideal, cope with the stress or manage uncomfortable emotions. Although statistics vary, it is estimated that between 5-25% of college students suffer from eating disorders, with bulimia being the most common in the college setting.
