Newfound Independence
Attending college is a major transition in the lives of teenagers. This is a time in their lives when they are no longer living under the same roof as their parents and now have to learn how to function independently. The transition from high school to college is referred to as being a trigger stage for negative body image and eating disorders.6A trigger, in reference to negative body image, is a life-altering event. College is a big life-altering event with a subset of little triggers that range from a different atmosphere, larger student body, leaving family, living on your own, and academic stress.7
Along with the newfound independence of college comes the most common stereotype of freshman year and is one of the biggest fears of first year college women, the freshmen 15. The phenomena of the freshmen 15 is the thought after your first year of college, you gain 15 pounds due to the dining hall food, alcohol intake, and late night eating. In order to prevent the freshmen 15 and adjust to the new independence associated with college, women tend to obsess over the food they are eating.
This obsession over food has led to the development of a new type of eating disorder called EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) or OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder).8 OSFED is a feeding or eating disorder that causes significant distress or impairment, but does not meet the criteria for another feeding or eating disorder. Eating disorders are not always black and white, and individuals can exhibit disordered eating patterns even if they don’t meet the threshold for a full-blown diagnosis.8 College women would not report having an eating disorder because they do not regularly binge, purge, or restrict. Many are not aware skipping meals, meticulously and subconsciously counting calories are signs of negative body image and EDNOS.8 Since students no longer have their guardians to prepare their meals for them or help them with their schedule, many college students resort to food because obsessing over food helps them feel in control.7
With the onset of eating disorders peaking at ages 14 and 18,9 corresponding to the ages of changes in an adolescent female’s body and the transition to college/leaving the family home, many women are not aware the average weight gained after freshmen year is 2.5 to 3.5 pounds, not 15 pounds.10 Many college women are aware of the possibility of gaining weight in college due to stress and the lack of parental guidance, thus use extreme measures to maintain their body weight. EDNOS and other eating disorders are a result of negative body image and the pressure collegiate women feel to succeed and be the well-rounded college student who has to balance a new schedule, a new environment, and academics. The idea of gaining weight, in the eyes of college females, is repulsive and reflects poor body image. Body image reflects how we see ourselves and among collegiate women, being overweight or averaged sized is considered inferior. Over 1/2 the females between the ages of 18-25 would prefer to be run over by a truck than be fat, and 2/3 surveyed would rather be mean or stupid.12
As a result of this newfound independence and lack of parental influence, many women see college as a time to find a partner, thus feel the need to appeal to others as attractive. A sense of how others perceive our bodies is another form of body image.13 Gaining the attention of a guy is reduced to possessing a stereotypical set of physical attributes, with no appreciation for personality, background, values, or beliefs.13 Based on the thought attention from males is centered on physical appearance, many girls result to using laxatives and quick, fad diets in order to lose 5 to 10 pounds for a formal, the upcoming weekend, or a special night out. It has become a comparison game where the “skinny” girls are seen with the most attractive boyfriends and the thought of “If I lose 5 pounds, I’ll look better in this dress” is widespread. These are caustic attitudes and influence friend and peer groups.
Based on the studies and statistics, the fact negative body image concerns are increasing among collegiate women to the point new eating disorders are developing calls for awareness to be made. Many collegiate women are not even aware they are in the midst of developing eating disorders that have some of the highest death rates among teens. The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for female’s 15-24 years old.15 Negative body image leading to eating disorders lowers life expectancy by 24 years if left untreated.14 By bringing awareness to the issue female students would be able to learn how to manage their schedules and navigate campus in a manner that reduces the stress of first year students. Also, by teaching students how to eat properly in the dining halls and educate them on what is a healthy meal, the negative body images resulting from newfound freedom can be prevented.
Based on the studies and statistics, the fact negative body image concerns are increasing among collegiate women to the point new eating disorders are developing calls for awareness to be made. Many collegiate women are not even aware they are in the midst of developing eating disorders that have some of the highest death rates among teens. The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for female’s 15-24 years old.15 Negative body image leading to eating disorders lowers life expectancy by 24 years if left untreated.14 By bringing awareness to the issue female students would be able to learn how to manage their schedules and navigate campus in a manner that reduces the stress of first year students. Also, by teaching students how to eat properly in the dining halls and educate them on what is a healthy meal, the negative body images resulting from newfound freedom can be prevented.