Heading back to college can be exciting — but it also brings new routines, new pressures, and sometimes unhealthy changes in eating and exercise habits. For many students, the transition to campus life is when disordered eating patterns can first appear or worsen.
Recognizing early warning signs is key to getting help quickly. Here’s what to watch for as you or your peers head back to school.
1. Sudden Changes in Eating Habits
Skipping meals, cutting out entire food groups, or becoming extremely rigid about what, when, or how much to eat can be warning signs. While some dietary changes may seem like “healthy choices,” if they feel compulsive or stressful, they may indicate a deeper issue.
2. Obsession With Weight, Calories, or Body Shape
Frequent weigh-ins, constant body checking in mirrors, or intense fear of gaining weight can signal an unhealthy preoccupation with appearance. Even if these behaviors seem subtle, they can quickly escalate in a high-pressure environment like college.
3. Social Withdrawal Around Food
Avoiding meals with friends, making excuses to skip dining hall trips, or feeling anxious about eating in public may indicate that food is becoming a source of fear rather than fuel.
4. Excessive or Compensatory Exercise
Staying active is great, but exercising to “make up for” eating or refusing to take rest days can be a red flag. Over time, this behavior can lead to physical harm and emotional distress.
5. Noticeable Weight Fluctuations — Up or Down
While weight alone does not determine whether someone has an eating disorder, significant or unexplained changes in weight can be a visible sign that something is wrong.
What To Do If You’re Concerned
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- Reach out to campus resources. Most colleges have student health centers or counseling services that can help.
- Talk to someone you trust. Early conversations can prevent symptoms from worsening.
- Avoid judgment. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, not lifestyle choices.
- Set up a treatment team. Whether you are only first noticing the warning signs, or have already been diagnosed with an eating disorder, having a nutritionist and therapist can be a great way to get the support you need.
Our team at Rooted Path specializes in eating disorder treatment and would be honored to guide you.