National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Reflections on campus culture and resources

Photo courtesy of Brett Sayles/Pexels

Last week (Feb. 23-Mar. 5) was National Eating Disorder Awareness week. We at The Lamron, in our desire to promote student wellness and address campus issues, thought it would be beneficial to discuss some of the key challenges we see on campus and identify essential resources for any students currently struggling with their eating habits. 

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), eating disorder prevalence among college students has increased dramatically over the past few decades. As reported by The Emily Program, the median onset age for many of the most commonly diagnosed eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating) is between 18-21, solidly within the typical age range of SUNY Geneseo students. 

The transition to college, with all of its stressors and with the newfound independence for many students in meeting their nutritional needs, can create a uniquely pressured environment; students who have previously struggled with eating disorders or disordered eating might find themselves struggling not to fall back into toxic habits. Students who have not necessarily confronted those challenges might suddenly feel influenced by a campus culture that encourages toxic patterns of thought. 

It can be difficult on an individual level to avoid joining into a culture that seems to celebrate harmful practices, or to combat emotionally the pressures you might feel to look and behave a certain way. It can be challenging to know how to direct yourself and your peers toward a more fulfilling and enjoyable way of living. 

Several members of The Lamron noted the frequency of insensitive jokes and lightheartedness surrounding disordered eating, and, further, the insistent glorification of eating disorders in our culture, perpetuated by the media. You might not even realize that you are buying into and perpetuating unhealthy ways of thinking and being—that is how intensely this toxicity has pervaded our collective consciousness. 

We encourage you to examine your own thoughts and language surrounding eating. It can be a good practice to critically assess how you might be suffering from the toxic culture surrounding you, and how you might be contributing to it—likely unintentionally—in the way you speak to others. If we all take that step toward reflection and awareness, we might help our community grow in health, inclusion, and positivity. 

We would also like to highlight some of the lesser-known eating disorders that you may not have heard of, including avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), other specified eating and feeding disorder (OFSED), and orthorexia, which, according to Sheppard Pratt, is “an obsession with eating ‘clean,’ ‘healthy,’ and organic foods free from preservatives, additives, and seasonings.” Though these eating disorders might not gain as much attention as others, they are just as important to address; if you or someone you know is suffering from symptoms that seem less recognizably disordered but are nonetheless impacting your health and wellbeing, do not be afraid to reach out for help and seek treatment.

The Lamron wants to encourage all of our readers to take advantage of our campus resources to combat this phenomenon. Navigate to SUNY Geneseo’s Student Health and Counseling page, where you will find information regarding individual and group therapy, workshops and programs, psychiatric services, opportunities for community referrals, and more. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone; reach out to family and friends, and do your best to resist the temptation to self-isolate when you are struggling.