Did you know that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness?(1)
At least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder every 62 minutes. And the numbers seem to be getting worse, especially among young adults. College students, like me, are the most at risk.
“The rate of eating disorders among college students surveyed from one college increased from 7.9% to 25% for males and 23.4% to 32.6% for females over a 13 year period.” (2)
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/CollegiateSurveyProject
More and more young people are being exposed to unrealistic body types through various social platforms like Instagram and Snapchat and especially through the media. And more and more are becoming at risk for disordered eating and potential eating disorders. So what is there to do?
Well, the NEDA ( National Eating Disorders Association) has found ,through their collegiate survey, that “access to education, screenings, and mental health resources are critical for early detection and prevention efforts, as well as encouraging affected individuals to seek proper treatment.” (2)
Educating people seems to be the best step to take in the fight against eating disorders. It’s important to start this education early, because college students aren’t the only people at risk. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) found an estimated 11% of high school students have officially been diagnosed with an eating disorder, and this doesn’t apply to the young people who are hiding it. (3) The earlier you start a system of detection and prevention the more likely it is to work. Implementing early detection and screening systems in elementary and high schools have the best chance at saving someone’s life.
Some schools are already taking action, like the Brooklyn Lab School in Brooklyn, New York, where their 10th graders participate in the Body Project.(4) “A group-based intervention that provides a forum for women and girls to confront unrealistic beauty ideals and engages them in the development of healthy body image through verbal, written, and behavioral exercises.” (2)
Even though it’s slow going there is a spread of awareness moving through the country. Hopefully sometime soon, we’ll be able to turn the tide of growing numbers and help young people feel comfortable in their own bodies.
Since it’s never too late to learn something new here are the links to the NEDAs pages on the warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms
and some preventative actions you can take against eating disorders:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/prevention
Works Cited:
- (Smink, F. E., van Hoeken, D., & Hoek, H. W. (2012). Epidemiology of eating disorders: Incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Current Psychiatry Reports,14(4), 406-414.)
- https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/CollegiateSurveyProject
- Eating Disorder Statistics. The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/counseling/Eating_Disorder_Statistics.pdf
- https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/02/23/tackling-
eating-disorders-with-school-based-initiatives