Issue Brief
The Underground Health Crisis on College Campuses: Negative Body Image among College Women
Body image is how we think, feel, and react towards our bodies. Negative body image results in women taking extreme measures such as binging, purging, skipping meals, excessive monitoring of meals, and over exercising, in order to achieve the body they think they should have. The onset of binge eating disorder usually occurs during the late adolescence or in the early twenties.The late adolescence and the early twenties age range is the exact age range of college-aged students.1 The effects of negative body image and eating disorders range from dizziness and brittle nails, to emaciated figures and organ failure resulting in death. With these disorders becoming prominent and increasing in popularity among women ages 18-25, college aged women need to be educated about the downward spiral that starts with negative body image. By teaching students how to function independently, use social media in a positive manner, and learn about the resources available, negative body image can be lessened and prevented in order to stop the downward health spiral.
The start of negative body image concerns can be seen among preadolescent girls ages 6 to 7. In a study conducted by Elizabeth Collins, 42% of preadolescent girls wished they were thinner.2 While the fact this occurs at such a young age is concerning, the real health hazards and negative effects of negative body image are of even more concern among college-aged women for a range of reasons. Some of the postulated reasons for why negative body image concerns increase among college women are the new found freedom associated with not living with parental guidance, the increased promiscuity associated with the new found freedom of college, and the increased influence of social media. While it is easier to detect and seek help for negative body image among pre-adolescent girls because of the parental guidance and the pubescent body changes that occur, it is a different case for college-aged women. College is a time where experimentation and finding yourself occurs without the influence of guardians. Thus, peers, friends, and family do not notice many negative body image effects. Also concerning is the alarming high percentage of college aged women that reported attempting to diet, which is a direct result of negative body image. A reported 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting.3 Learning these habits at such crucial ages affects women for the rest of their lives, thus an educational program bringing light to the issue and the increasing rates would be beneficial.
The issue of negative body image among college women needs to be brought to the attention of college campuses because many women, who suffer from negative body image and eating disorders, are not even aware they are already part of the vicious cycle. That is why negative body image is referred to as being an “underground” issue. Whispers are heard around the dining hall about being, “Too fat”, “I’m not eating carbs”, “I’m only having an apple because I ate too much yesterday”, and “I’ll need to go to the gym again after this”. It is not only in the dining halls these body negative phrases can be heard. It is one of the hot topics of conversations among friends who try fad diets together, who stand in front of the mirrors together and nit pick every single flaw on their body. A 2010 survey of college counselors and other professionals by the Eating Disorders Recovery Center found that students did not seek treatment because 48% were not aware they had an eating disorder.4 Combating this issue on college campuses starts with educating women about one of the first signs of an eating disorder, and that is poor body image.5
Body image is how we think, feel, and react towards our bodies. Negative body image results in women taking extreme measures such as binging, purging, skipping meals, excessive monitoring of meals, and over exercising, in order to achieve the body they think they should have. The onset of binge eating disorder usually occurs during the late adolescence or in the early twenties.The late adolescence and the early twenties age range is the exact age range of college-aged students.1 The effects of negative body image and eating disorders range from dizziness and brittle nails, to emaciated figures and organ failure resulting in death. With these disorders becoming prominent and increasing in popularity among women ages 18-25, college aged women need to be educated about the downward spiral that starts with negative body image. By teaching students how to function independently, use social media in a positive manner, and learn about the resources available, negative body image can be lessened and prevented in order to stop the downward health spiral.
The start of negative body image concerns can be seen among preadolescent girls ages 6 to 7. In a study conducted by Elizabeth Collins, 42% of preadolescent girls wished they were thinner.2 While the fact this occurs at such a young age is concerning, the real health hazards and negative effects of negative body image are of even more concern among college-aged women for a range of reasons. Some of the postulated reasons for why negative body image concerns increase among college women are the new found freedom associated with not living with parental guidance, the increased promiscuity associated with the new found freedom of college, and the increased influence of social media. While it is easier to detect and seek help for negative body image among pre-adolescent girls because of the parental guidance and the pubescent body changes that occur, it is a different case for college-aged women. College is a time where experimentation and finding yourself occurs without the influence of guardians. Thus, peers, friends, and family do not notice many negative body image effects. Also concerning is the alarming high percentage of college aged women that reported attempting to diet, which is a direct result of negative body image. A reported 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting.3 Learning these habits at such crucial ages affects women for the rest of their lives, thus an educational program bringing light to the issue and the increasing rates would be beneficial.
The issue of negative body image among college women needs to be brought to the attention of college campuses because many women, who suffer from negative body image and eating disorders, are not even aware they are already part of the vicious cycle. That is why negative body image is referred to as being an “underground” issue. Whispers are heard around the dining hall about being, “Too fat”, “I’m not eating carbs”, “I’m only having an apple because I ate too much yesterday”, and “I’ll need to go to the gym again after this”. It is not only in the dining halls these body negative phrases can be heard. It is one of the hot topics of conversations among friends who try fad diets together, who stand in front of the mirrors together and nit pick every single flaw on their body. A 2010 survey of college counselors and other professionals by the Eating Disorders Recovery Center found that students did not seek treatment because 48% were not aware they had an eating disorder.4 Combating this issue on college campuses starts with educating women about one of the first signs of an eating disorder, and that is poor body image.5