eating disorders college essay

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, discussing my eating disorder in college essays – too personal or potentially impactful.

Hey guys, so here's the thing – I’ve battled with an eating disorder, and it’s been a significant part of my high school experience. Should I write about overcoming this challenge in my essays, or would it be better to choose a less sensitive subject?

Your courage in facing and overcoming such a personal challenge is commendable. When choosing an essay topic, the key is to focus on how the experience has shaped you and enabled personal growth. If you believe that your journey with an eating disorder has been a transformational part of your high school experience and has changed you in a significant way, it is worth considering as an essay topic.

However, ensure that your narrative is one of resilience and that it showcases how this experience has helped you build up your strengths, rather than solely focusing on the struggle itself. For example, avoid graphic descriptions of what you dealt with, as they may be uncomfortable for admissions officers to read, especially if they have struggled with eating disorders themselves—remember, you never know who is going to be reading your essay.

Rather, focus on how overcoming the hardship of this experience has taught you important life skills, by talking about accomplishments or formative experiences that were enabled by the abilities you developed as a result of your struggle with your eating disorder. This approach will give colleges what they are interested in in any personal statement, which is your ability to persevere and how your experiences have prepared you for the challenges of college life.

In summary, this topic is not too personal if framed correctly. If you're wondering if your approach is working, you can always check out CollegeVine's free peer essay review service, or submit it to an expert advisor for a paid review. Since they don't know you, they can provide an objective perspective that will hopefully give you a sense of how an actual admissions officer would read you essay. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Eating Disorders, Essay Example

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Introduction

Eating disorders affect men and women of all ages, although adolescents tend to be the age group that is more susceptible. This is because, as their bodies are changing, they may feel more pressure by society as well as peer groups to look attractive and fit in (Segal et al). Types of eating disorders include Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating, which can also be related to the first two. The reasons behind Eating Disorder usually stem from a reaction to low self-esteem and a negative means of coping with life and stress (Something Fishy).  Eating disorders are also often associated with an underlying psychological disorder, which may be the reason behind the eating disorder or which may develop from the Eating Disorder itself. Mental health disorders that are often associated with Eating Disorder include Anxiety, Depression, Multiple Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, BiPolar, BiPolar II, Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder and Dissociative Disorder. The longer a person suffers from ED, the more probable that they will be dealing with another mental illness, most likely Anxiety or Depression (Something Fishy). The eventual outcome of Eating Disorder can be deadly. “Some eating disorders are associated with a 10-15% mortality rate and a 20-25% suicide rate. Sometimes, anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating may be perceived as slow suicide (Carruthers).” In order to prevent the deadly consequences of Eating Disorder and to prevent it from becoming more pervasive in society, it is necessary to recognize the correct treatment method for this disease.  Traditional treatments have focused on providing risk information to raise awareness of the consequences of Eating Disorder (Lobera et al 263). However, since Eating Disorder is a mental illness, a more effective treatment is one that offers psychological evaluation, counseling and treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is emerging as a more robust and effective method that can be used not only to treat Eating Disorder but the associated mental illnesses that may accompany it.

The Problem

Eating disorder is pervasive in society and can have deadly consequences on those that suffer from it. Many time Eating Disorder goes undetected by family members and friends because those suffering will go to great lengths to hide their problem. However, there are some signs and symptoms that can be clues that a person is suffering from some sort of eating disorder. According to Segal, these signs can include:

• Restricting Food or Dieting: A change in eating habits that includes restricting food or excessive dieting. The person my frequently miss meals or not eat, complaining of an upset stomach or that they are not hungry. A use of diet pills or illegal drugs may also be noticed.
• Bingeing: Sufferers may binge eat in secret, which can be hard to detect since they will usually do it late at night or in a private place. Signs of potential bingeing are empty food packages and wrappers and hidden stashes of high calorie junk food or desserts.
• Purging: Those who suffer from bulimia will force themselves to throw up after meals to rid their body of added calories. A sign that this is occurring is when a person makes a trip to the bathroom right after eating on a regular basis, possible running water or a fan to hide the sound of their vomiting. They may also use perfume, mouthwash or breath mints regularly to disguise the smell. In addition to vomiting, laxatives or diuretics may also be used to flush unwanted calories from the body.
• Distorted body image and altered appearance: People suffering from Eating Disorder often have a very distorted image of their own body. While they may appear thin to others, they may view themselves as fat and attempt to hide their body under loose clothing. They will also have an obsessive preoccupation with their weight, and complain of being fat even when it is obvious to others that this is not the case.

There are several possible side effects from Eating Disorders, both physical and psychological. Physical damage can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the eating disorder and the length of time the person has been suffering from it.  Psychological consequences can be the development of a mental illness, especially depression and anxiety. Some sufferers of Eating Disorder will also develop a coping mechanism such as harming themselves, through cutting, self-mutilation or self-inflicted violence, or SIV (Something Fishy).

Physical consequences of Eating Disorders depend on the type of eating disorder that the person has. Anorexia nervosa can lead to a slow heart rate and low blood pressure, putting the sufferer at risk for heart failure and permanent heart damage. Malnutrition can lead to osteoporosis and dry, brittle bones. Other common complications include kidney damage due to dehydration, overall weakness, hair loss and dry skin. Bulimia nervosa, where the person constantly purges through vomiting, can have similar consequences as Anorexia but with added complications and damage to the esophagus and gastric cavity due to the frequent vomiting. In addition, tooth decay can occur because of damage caused by gastric juices. If the person also uses laxatives to purge, irregular bowel movements and constipation can occur. Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis can also common negative heath effects (National Eating Disorders Association).  If the Eating Disorder goes on for a prolonged time period, death is also a possible affect, which is why it is important to seek treatment for the individual as soon as it is determined that they are suffering from an Eating Disorder.

Once it is recognized that a loved one may be suffering from an Eating Disorder, the next step is coming up with an effective intervention in time to prevent any lasting physical damage or death. The most effective treatment to date is Cognitive-behavioral therapy, an active form of counseling that can be done in either a group or private setting (Curtis). Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to help correct poor eating habits and prevent relapse as well as change the way the individual thinks about food, eating and their body image (Curtis).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for eating disorders, but of course this depends on both the counselor administrating the therapy and the attitude of the person receiving it.  According to Fairburn (3), while patients with eating disorders “have a reputation for being difficult to treat, the great majority can be helped and many, if not most, can make a full and lasting recovery.” In the study conducted by Lobera et al, it was determined that students that took part in group cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions showed a reduced dissatisfaction with their body and a reduction in their drive to thinness. Self esteem was also improved during the group therapy sessions and eating habits were significantly improved.

“The overall effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy can depend on the duration of the sessions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered effective for the treatment of eating disorders. But because eating disorder behaviors can endure for a long period of time, ongoing psychological treatment is usually required for at least a year and may be needed for several years (Curtis).”

  Alternative solutions

Traditional treatments for Eating Disorders rely on educating potential sufferers, especially school aged children, of the potential damage, both psychological and physical, that can be caused by the various eating disorders .

“ Research conducted to date into the primary prevention of eating disorders (ED) has mainly considered the provision of information regarding risk factors. Consequently, there is a need to develop new methods that go a step further, promoting a change in attitudes and behavior in the  target population (Lobera et al).”

The current research has not shown that passive techniques, such as providing information, reduces the prevalence of eating disorders or improves the condition in existing patients. While education about eating disorders, the signs and symptoms and the potential health affects, is an important part of providing information to both the those that may know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder and those that are suffering from one, it is not an effective treatment by itself. It must be integrated with a deeper level of therapy that helps to improve the self-esteem and psychological issues from which the eating disorder stems.

Hospitalization has also been a treatment for those suffering from an eating disorder, especially when a complication, such as kidney failure or extreme weakness, occurs. However, treating the symptom of the eating disorder will not treat the underlying problem. Hospitalization can effectively treat the symptom only when it is combined with a psychological therapy that treats the underlying psychological problem that is causing the physical health problem.

Effectively treating eating disorders is possible using cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, the sooner a person who is suffering from an eating disorder begins treatment the more effective the treatment is likely to be. The longer a person suffers from an eating disorder, the more problems that may arise because of it, both physically and psychologically. While the deeper underlying issue may differ from patient to patient, it must be addressed in order for an eating disorder treatment to be effective. If not, the eating disorder is likely to continue. By becoming better educated about the underlying mental health issues that are typically the cause of eating disorder, both family members and friends of loved ones suffering from eating disorders and the sufferers themselves can take the steps necessary to overcome Eating Disorder and begin the road to recovery.

Works Cited

“Associated Mental Health Conditions and Addictions.” Something Fishy, 2010. Web. 19 November2010.

Carruthers, Martyn. Who Has Eating Disorders?   Soulwork Solutions, 2010. Web. 19 November 2010.

Curtis, Jeanette. “Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders.” WebMD (September 16, 2009). Web. 19 November 2010.

Fairburn, Christopher G. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders. New York: The Guilford Press, 2008. Print.  

“Health Consequences of Eating Disorders” National Eating Disorders Association (2005). Web. 21 November 2010.

Lobera, I.J., Lozano, P.L., Rios, P.B., Candau, J.R., Villar y Lebreros, Gregorio Sanchez, Millan, M.T.M., Gonzalez, M.T.M., Martin, L.A., Villalobos, I.J. and Sanchez, N.V. “Traditional and New Strategies in the Primary Prevention of Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study in Spanish Adolescents.” International Journal of General Medicine 3  (October 5, 2010): 263-272. Dovepress.Web. 19 November 2010.

Segal, Jeanne, Smith, Melinda, Barston, Suzanne. Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder: Advice for Parents, Family Members and Friends , 2010. Web. 19 November 2010.

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Eating Disorders in Adolescents Essay

Eating disorder as a severe health condition that can be manifested in many different ways may tackle a person of any age, gender, and socio-cultural background. However, adolescents, especially when it comes to female teenagers, are considered to be the most vulnerable in terms of developing this condition (Izydorczyk & Sitnik-Warchulska, 2018). According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP, 2018), 10 in 100 young women struggle with an eating disorder. Thus, the purpose of the present paper is to dwell on the specifics of external factors causing the disorder as well as the ways to deal with this issue.

To begin with, it is necessary to define which diseases are meant under the notion of an eating disorder. Generally, eating disorders encompass such conditions as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) (AACAP, 2018). Although these conditions have different manifestations in the context of eating patterns, all of them affect teenager’s nutrition patterns and average weight. According to the researchers, there exist common external stressors that lead to an eating disorder, such as:

• Socio-cultural appearance standards. For the most part, modern culture and mass media promote certain body images as a generally accepted ideal, which causes many teenage girls to doubt their appearance and follow the mass trends.
• Biological factors. Some teenagers might have a genetic predisposition for certain disorders if anyone in the family struggled with the disease at some point in the past.
• Emotional factors. Children, who are at risk of being affected by such mental disorders as anxiety and depression, are likely to disrupt their nutrition patterns.
• Peer pressure. Similar to socio-cultural standards, peer pressure dictates certain criteria for the teenagers’ body image, eventually impacting their perception of food and nutrition (Izydorczyk & Sitnik-Warchulska, 2018).

With such a variety of potential stressors, it is imperative for both medical professionals and caregivers to pay close attention to the teenager’s eating habits. Thus, in order to assess the issue, any medical screening should include weight and height measurements. In such a way, medical professionals are able to define any discrepancies in the measurements over time and bring this issue up with a patient. When working with adolescents, it is of paramount importance to establish a trusting relationship with a patient, as teenagers are extremely vulnerable at this age. After identifying any issue related to weight and body image, nurses and physicians need to ask the patient whether they have any problems with eating. In case they are not willing to talk on the matter, it is necessary to emphasize that their response will not be shared with caregivers unless they want it. It is also necessary to ask questions regarding the child’s relationship with peers carefully, as they may easily become an emotional trigger.

In order to avoid such complications as eating disorders, it is vital for caregivers to talk with their children on the topic of the aforementioned stressors. Firstly, they need to promote healthy eating patterns by explaining why it is important for one’s body instead of giving orders to the child. For additional support, they may ask a medical professional to justify this information. Secondly, the caregivers need to dedicate time to explain the inappropriateness of body standards promoted by the mass media and promote diversity and positive body image within the family. Lastly, caregivers are to secure a safe environment for the teenager’s fragile self-esteem and self-actualization in order for them to feel more confident among peers (Boberová & Husárová, 2021). These steps, although frequently undermined, contribute beneficially in terms of dealing with eating disorders external stressors among adolescents.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry [AACAP]. (2018). Eating disorders in teens. Web.

Boberová, Z., & Husárová, D. (2021). What role does body image in relationship between level of health literacy and symptoms of eating disorders in adolescents?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 18 (7), 3482.

Izydorczyk, B., & Sitnik-Warchulska, K. (2018). Socio-cultural appearance standards and risk factors for eating disorders in adolescents and women of various ages. Frontiers in psychology , 9 , 429.

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6 Tips for Students Attending College With an Eating Disorder

How to be proactive about eating disorder recovery during the college years..

Posted September 29, 2022 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

• What Are Eating Disorders?
• Find a therapist to heal from an eating disorder
• Transitioning to college can be full of challenges that may trigger or worsen eating disorder behaviors.
• Changes in relationships, eating schedule, food access, responsibilities, treatment services, and stressors may require new coping strategies.
• With careful preparation, such as establishing support early on, eating disorder recovery is possible through the college years.

by Gia Marson, Ed.D.

Nourishing your body well is a must during times of transition because growth requires extra physical and psychological energy. College is one of those times.

“Real hope combined with real action has always pulled me through difficult times. Real hope with doing nothing has never pulled me through.” —Jenni Schaefer

Attending college presents a lot of firsts: The first time living away from home, in a new town, with a new routine, and more responsibilities. Coupled with data that eating disorder (ED) prevalence has increased since 2020, new challenges can add to a student's load and potentially trigger or worsen ED behavior. Don’t let that happen to you. Enjoy college and the life transitions ahead by taking steps to ensure you stay on track.

College and recovery

The college years can be incredibly exciting, but they come with the need to adapt, especially when you are struggling with food or in recovery from an eating disorder. There’s ample evidence of long-term consequences if an ED is not treated appropriately or if there are gaps in treatment. Therefore, knowing how to start or sustain a recovery plan is critical to your health.

A recent study showed that from 2000 to 2018, the prevalence of all types of EDs doubled for females and males. Globally, all types of EDs increased from around 15 years of age and remained at a peak until around 30, with a slow decline seen after age 35.

Changes come with challenges

Recognizing the risks you may face during your time at college can help you cope. With ample preparation and realistic actions, you can avoid setbacks—or bounce back from them more quickly. While every person has a unique recovery journey, some potential areas of difficulty may include:

• Creating a schedule that works with your recovery habits.
• Accessing food based on dining halls, meal plans, or your own preparation.
• Navigating new relationships, boundaries , living environments, and responsibilities.
• Adapting to different treatment settings and providers.
• Combating feelings of insecurity.
• Missing family meals or your home-based support system.
• Independent time management of academics, activities, sleeping , and socializing.
• Establishing a sense of belonging.
• Dealing with urges to isolate, binge eat, purge, over-exercise, or skip meals.
• More opportunities for negative, social, and body comparisons.
• Tuning in to yourself, despite less privacy.
• Identifying it when the need arises for new coping skills.

"[J]ust wanted to send out some encouragement to everyone out there struggling with weight or body issues or emotional eating …it’s never too late to start improving yourself and trying to be the best version of YOU possible. It’s not a race and it’s not a competition ..." —Rebel Wilson

Tips for sustaining recovery

Start by imagining that recovery is possible for everyone, and that includes you. Hope makes it easier to be flexible, to adapt, and to get back up after a recovery slip. There are real actions you can take to set yourself up for success in your college recovery.

"Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It’s one of the bravest things you can do. And it can save your life." —Lily Collins

• Ensure you have support. If you have an eating disorder, professional guidance gives you the comfort of knowing that someone understands what you are facing and that you are well supported. Though universities often have limited resources, they almost always have strong ties with local ED therapists, dietitians, primary care doctors, and psychiatrists. Your college counseling center is an excellent resource for community referrals.
• Make a specific plan for eating at college. College schedules vary from day to day, so being proactive is vital. If you are living in a dorm, when will you have meals and snacks based on the breaks in your academic schedule, considering the hours and locations of various dining options that take your meal plan? If you live in an apartment, have you made a list of meals and snacks that are quick and easy to prepare or pick up? Avoid skipping meals or going long stretches without food because getting too hungry can trigger ED thoughts and behaviors.
• Set exercise limits. There are a lot of ways to exercise on college campuses, so choose what you enjoy or try something new. You will probably be walking or biking a lot—which may be all you need for a mental health boost and a good level of fitness. If compulsive exercise is a behavior that interferes with your being well nourished, discuss coping strategies ahead of time with someone who knows your recovery goals or your relapse prevention plan. Deciding on explicit limits for exercise will help you know if you go beyond them. And if you exceed your limit, do not keep it a secret.
• Maintain positive relationships. Meaningful connections with others (and with yourself) is a key to recovery. When you find yourself getting stuck in ED thoughts or actions, reach out to chat or spend time with people. Your relationships can provide support when you need it and let fun into your life. So, when you have downtime, invest in nurturing your relationships, not the ED. This includes noticing when you could use some nurturing yourself, such as rest, quiet, exercise, or tuning in.
• Build a multidimensional life. Being at college is an ideal time to expand yourself. There is a wide range of opportunities for relationships, involvement, learning, and growth. In stark contrast, being immersed in an eating disorder is limiting, isolating, and tiresome. That’s why making your life bigger, more meaningful, and more dynamic helps shift your attention to things that matter more. Instead of spending time in a mental obsession with food, weight, or shape, cultivate other, more interesting aspects of your identity .
• Keep your body regulated. Not getting adequate sleep, being too stressed, or feeling sick can interfere with eating well because of dysregulated hormones , mood, and hunger and fullness cues. Keep in mind that there are natural, negative consequences to pushing beyond your body’s limits. Sleep deprivation and intense stress have a physiological impact on appetite and satiety. Therefore, take time to sleep well, unwind from especially stressful days, and heal from any illness.

"As scary as this can be I want you to know no matter how broken you feel, and how seemingly unlikely it is, we are never too broken to heal." —Jonathan Van Ness

Being in recovery during college requires honesty and hope. Recognize your challenges early on and identify a personal coping plan to deal with and overcome them. A proactive approach can make your time at college intellectually, emotionally, relationally, and developmentally transformative. Don’t let an ED shut you down at a time when your world should be opening up.

Boughton, K., Boyle, S., O’Byrne, R., & Lumley, M. (2021). Transitioning to University with a mental illness: Experiences of youth and their parent. Journal of Adolescent Research, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584211014842

Byrom, N., Batchelor, R., Warner, H., & Stevenson, A. (2022). Seeking support for an eating disorder: A qualitative analysis of the university student experience—accessibility of support for students. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00562-5

Galmiche, M., Déchelotte, P., Lambert, G., & Tavolacci, M. (2019). Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000–2018 period: A systematic literature review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 109(5), 1402–1413. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy342

Santomauro, D., Melen, S., Mitchison, D., Vos, T., Whiteford, H., & Ferrari, A. (2021). The hidden burden of eating disorders: An extension of estimates from the global burden of disease study 2019. Lancet Psychiatry, 8(4), 320–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00040-7

Gia Marson, Ed.D. , and Danielle Keenan-Miller, Ph.D ., are co-authors of The Binge Eating Prevention Workbook .

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• Eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious health conditions that affect both your physical and mental health. These conditions include problems in how you think about food, eating, weight and shape, and in your eating behaviors. These symptoms can affect your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life.

If not treated effectively, eating disorders can become long-term problems and, in some cases, can cause death. The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder.

Most eating disorders involve focusing too much on weight, body shape and food. This can lead to dangerous eating behaviors. These behaviors can seriously affect the ability to get the nutrition your body needs. Eating disorders can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, teeth and mouth. They can lead to other diseases. They're also linked with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

With proper treatment, you can return to healthier eating habits and learn healthier ways to think about food and your body. You also may be able to reverse or reduce serious problems caused by the eating disorder.

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Symptoms vary, depending on the type of eating disorder. Anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder are the most common eating disorders. People with eating disorders can have all different body types and sizes.

Anorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh), also called anorexia nervosa, can be a life-threatening eating disorder. It includes an unhealthy low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a view of weight and shape that is not realistic. Anorexia often involves using extreme efforts to control weight and shape, which often seriously interfere with health and daily life.

Anorexia may include severely limiting calories or cutting out certain kinds of foods or food groups. It may involve other methods to lose weight, such as exercising too much, using laxatives or diet aids, or vomiting after eating. Efforts to reduce weight can cause severe health problems, even for those who continue eating throughout the day or whose weight isn't extremely low.

Bulimia (buh-LEE-me-uh), also called bulimia nervosa, is a serious, sometimes life-threatening eating disorder. Bulimia includes episodes of bingeing, commonly followed by episodes of purging. Sometimes bulimia also includes severely limiting eating for periods of time. This often leads to stronger urges to binge eat and then purge.

Bingeing involves eating food — sometimes an extremely large amount — in a short period of time. During bingeing, people feel like they have no control over their eating and that they can't stop. After eating, due to guilt, shame or an intense fear of weight gain, purging is done to get rid of calories. Purging can include vomiting, exercising too much, not eating for a period of time, or using other methods, such as taking laxatives. Some people change medicine doses, such as changing insulin amounts, to try to lose weight.

Bulimia also involves being preoccupied with weight and body shape, with severe and harsh self-judgment of personal appearance.

Binge-eating disorder

Binge-eating disorder involves eating food in a short amount of time. When bingeing, it feels like there's no control over eating. But binge eating is not followed by purging. During a binge, people may eat food faster or eat more food than planned. Even when not hungry, eating may continue long past feeling uncomfortably full.

After a binge, people often feel a great deal of guilt, disgust or shame. They may fear gaining weight. They may try to severely limit eating for periods of time. This leads to increased urges to binge, setting up an unhealthy cycle. Embarrassment can lead to eating alone to hide bingeing. A new round of bingeing commonly occurs at least once a week.

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder includes extremely limited eating or not eating certain foods. The pattern of eating often doesn't meet minimum daily nutrition needs. This may lead to problems with growth, development and functioning in daily life. But people with this disorder don't have fears about gaining weight or body size. Instead, they may not be interested in eating or may avoid food with a certain color, texture, smell or taste. Or they may worry about what can happen when eating. For example, they may have a fear of choking or vomiting, or they may worry about getting stomach problems.

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder can be diagnosed in all ages, but it's more common in younger children. The disorder can result in major weight loss or failure to gain weight in childhood. A lack of proper nutrition can lead to major health problems.

When to see a doctor

An eating disorder can be difficult to manage or overcome by yourself. The earlier you get treatment, the more likely you'll make a full recovery. Sometimes people can have problem eating behaviors that are similar to some symptoms of an eating disorder, but the symptoms don't meet the guidelines for a diagnosis of an eating disorder. But these problem eating behaviors can still seriously affect health and well-being.

If you have problem eating behaviors that cause you distress or affect your life or health, or if you think you have an eating disorder, seek medical help.

Urging a loved one to seek treatment

Many people with eating disorders may not think they need treatment. One of the main features of many eating disorders is not realizing how severe the symptoms are. Also, guilt and shame often prevent people from getting help.

If you're worried about a friend or family member, urge the person to talk to a health care provider. Even if that person isn't ready to admit to having an issue with food, you can start the discussion by expressing concern and a desire to listen.

Red flags that may suggest an eating disorder include:

• Skipping meals or snacks or making excuses for not eating.
• Having a very limited diet that hasn't been prescribed by a trained medical professional.
• Too much focus on food or healthy eating, especially if it means not participating in usual events, such as sports banquets, eating birthday cake or dining out.
• Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats.
• Withdrawing from usual social activities.
• Frequent and ongoing worry or complaints about being unhealthy or overweight and talk of losing weight.
• Frequent checking in the mirror for what are thought to be flaws.
• Repeatedly eating large amounts of foods.
• Using dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss.
• Exercising much more than the average person. This includes not taking rest days or days off for injury or illness or refusing to attend social events or other life events because of wanting to exercise.
• Calluses on the knuckles from reaching fingers into the mouth to cause vomiting.
• Problems with loss of tooth enamel that may be a sign of repeated vomiting.
• Leaving during meals or right after a meal to use the toilet.
• Talk of depression, disgust, shame or guilt about eating habits.
• Eating in secret.

If you're worried that you or your child may have an eating disorder, contact a health care provider to talk about your concerns. If needed, get a referral to a mental health provider with expertise in eating disorders. Or if your insurance permits it, contact an expert directly.

The exact cause of eating disorders is not known. As with other mental health conditions, there may be different causes, such as:

• Genetics. Some people may have genes that increase their risk of developing eating disorders.
• Biology. Biological factors, such as changes in brain chemicals, may play a role in eating disorders.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop an eating disorder. Eating disorders often start in the teen and young adult years. But they can occur at any age.

Certain factors may increase the risk of developing an eating disorder, including:

• Family history. Eating disorders are more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who've had an eating disorder.
• Other mental health issues. Trauma, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental health issues can increase the likelihood of an eating disorder.
• Dieting and starvation. Frequent dieting is a risk factor for an eating disorder, especially with weight that is constantly going up and down when getting on and off new diets. There is strong evidence that many of the symptoms of an eating disorder are symptoms of starvation. Starvation affects the brain and can lead to mood changes, rigid thinking, anxiety and reduced appetite. This may cause severely limited eating or problem eating behaviors to continue and make it difficult to return to healthy eating habits.
• A history of weight bullying. People who have been teased or bullied for their weight are more likely to develop problems with eating and eating disorders. This includes people who have been made to feel ashamed of their weight by peers, health care professionals, coaches, teachers or family members.
• Stress. Whether it's heading off to college, moving, landing a new job, or a family or relationship issue, change can bring stress. And stress may increase the risk of an eating disorder.

Complications

Eating disorders cause a wide variety of complications, some of them life-threatening. The more severe or long lasting the eating disorder, the more likely it is that serious complications may occur. These may include:

• Serious health problems.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior.
• Problems with growth and development.
• Social and relationship problems.
• Substance use disorders.
• Work and school issues.

There's no sure way to prevent eating disorders, but you can take steps to develop healthy eating habits. If you have a child, you can help your child lower the risk of developing eating disorders.

To develop healthy eating habits and lifestyle behaviors:

• Choose a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Limit salt, sugar, alcohol, saturated fat and trans fats. Avoid extreme dieting. If you need to lose weight, talk to your health care provider or a dietitian to create a plan that meets your needs.
• Don't use dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss.
• Get enough physical activity. Each week, get at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity, such as brisk walking. Choose activities that you enjoy, so you're more likely to do them.
• Seek help for mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or issues with self-esteem and body image.

For more guidelines on food and nutrition, as well as physical activity, go to health.gov.

Talk to a health care provider if you have concerns about your eating behaviors. Getting treatment early can prevent the problem from getting worse.

Here are some ways to help your child develop healthy-eating behaviors:

• Avoid dieting around your child. Family dining habits may influence the relationships children develop with food. Eating meals together gives you an opportunity to teach your child about the pitfalls of dieting. It also allows you to see whether your child is eating enough food and enough variety.
• Talk to your child. There are many websites and other social media sites that promote dangerous ideas, such as viewing anorexia as a lifestyle choice rather than an eating disorder. Some sites encourage teens to start dieting. It's important to correct any wrong ideas like this. Talk to your child about the risks of making unhealthy eating choices.
• Encourage and reinforce a healthy body image in your child, whatever their shape or size. Talk to your child about self-image and offer reassurance that body shapes can vary. Don't criticize your own body in front of your child. Messages of acceptance and respect can help build healthy self-esteem. They also can build resilience ⸺ the ability to recover quickly from difficult events. These skills can help children get through the challenging times of the teen and young adult years.
• Ask your child's health care provider for help. At well-child visits, health care providers may be able to identify early signs of an eating disorder. They can ask children questions about their eating habits. These visits can include checks of height and weight percentiles and body mass index, which can alert you and your child's provider to any big changes.

Reach out to help

If you notice a family member or friend who seems to show signs of an eating disorder, consider talking to that person about your concern for their well-being. You may not be able to prevent an eating disorder from developing, but reaching out with compassion may encourage the person to seek treatment.

• Feeding and eating disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5-TR. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2022. https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• Hales RE, et al. Feeding and eating disorders. In: The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 7th ed. American Psychiatric Publishing; 2019. https://psychiatryonline.org. Accessed Nov. 10, 2022.
• Eating disorders: About more than food. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• Eating disorders. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Eating-Disorders/Support. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• What are eating disorders? American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• Treasure J, et al. Eating disorders. The Lancet. 2020; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30059-3.
• Hay P. Current approach to eating disorders: A clinical update. Internal Medicine Journal. 2020; doi:10.1111/imj.14691.
• Bhattacharya A, et al. Feeding and eating disorders. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 2020; doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64123-6.00026-6.
• Uniacke B, et al. Eating disorders. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2022; doi:10.7326/AITC202208160.
• Fogarty S, et al. The role of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of eating disorders: A systematic review. Eating Behaviors. 2016; doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.03.002.
• Some imported dietary supplements and nonprescription drug products may harm you. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/some-imported-dietary-supplements-and-nonprescription-drug-products-may-harm-you. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• Questions and answers about FDA's initiative against contaminated weight loss products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/frequently-asked-questions-popular-topics/questions-and-answers-about-fdas-initiative-against-contaminated-weight-loss-products. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/mixing-medications-and-dietary-supplements-can-endanger-your-health. Accessed Nov. 16, 2022.
• Lebow JR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Dec. 1, 2022.
• 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed Feb. 3, 2023.
• Long MW, et al. Cost-effectiveness of 5 public health approaches to prevent eating disorders. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2022.07.005.
• Health.gov. https://health.gov/. Accessed Feb. 7, 2023.
• Eating disorder treatment: Know your options

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Essay on Eating Disorders

Students are often asked to write an essay on Eating Disorders in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Eating Disorders

Understanding eating disorders.

Eating disorders are serious health problems. They occur when individuals develop unhealthy eating habits that can harm their body. They often start with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape.

Types of Eating Disorders

There are three main types of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Each has different symptoms but all can be harmful.

Impact on Health

Eating disorders can damage important body parts like the heart and brain. They can also affect mental health, causing anxiety or depression.

Getting Help

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, it’s important to seek help. Doctors, therapists, and support groups can provide treatment and support.

250 Words Essay on Eating Disorders

Introduction.

Eating disorders, a category of mental health conditions, have been a subject of increasing concern in contemporary society. They are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions, often driven by body dissatisfaction and distorted body image.

The most common types are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Anorexia is defined by a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Bulimia involves frequent episodes of binge eating followed by behaviors like forced vomiting to avert weight gain. Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by frequent overeating episodes but without subsequent purging actions.

Sociocultural Influences

Sociocultural factors play a significant role in the onset of eating disorders. The media’s portrayal of an ‘ideal’ body size and shape can contribute to body dissatisfaction and consequently, disordered eating behaviors.

Health Implications

The health implications of eating disorders are severe, impacting both physical and mental health. These can range from malnutrition, organ damage, to increased risk of suicide.

Eating disorders, therefore, are serious conditions that require comprehensive treatment. Increased awareness, early diagnosis, and interventions can significantly improve the prognosis and quality of life for those affected.

500 Words Essay on Eating Disorders

Introduction to eating disorders.

Eating disorders represent a group of serious conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that can negatively affect a person’s physical and mental health. These disorders often develop from a complex interplay of genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

The Types of Eating Disorders

The most common types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Bulimia Nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise. Binge Eating Disorder, the most common eating disorder in the U.S., involves recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food, often very quickly and to the point of discomfort.

The Underlying Causes

Eating disorders are typically multifactorial and can’t be attributed to a single cause. They often coexist with other mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role, suggesting that eating disorders can run in families. Sociocultural factors, including societal pressures to be thin, can also contribute to the development of these disorders.

The Impact on Physical and Mental Health

The physical consequences of eating disorders are profound and can be life-threatening. They range from malnutrition, heart conditions, and bone loss in anorexia, to gastrointestinal problems and electrolyte imbalances in bulimia. Binge eating disorder can lead to obesity and related complications like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The mental health consequences are equally severe and include depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide. Eating disorders can also lead to social isolation and impaired functioning at work or school.

Treatment and Recovery

Treatment for eating disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, combining medical, psychological, and nutritional therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often effective, helping individuals to understand and change patterns of thought and behavior that lead to disordered eating.

Early intervention is crucial for recovery. However, stigma and lack of understanding about these disorders can often delay treatment. Therefore, raising awareness and promoting understanding about eating disorders is essential.

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health conditions with significant physical and psychological consequences. Understanding their multifactorial nature is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. The importance of early intervention and the role of societal attitudes in both the development and recovery from these disorders cannot be overstated. As a society, we must strive to promote body positivity and mental health awareness to help those struggling with these debilitating conditions.

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Can I Write About My Eating Disorder In College Essays?

A crucial part of appealing to the college admission board is writing a good personal essay. The topic isn’t limited to anything as long as it’s that student’s personal experience. Some of the well-known compositions found amongst college students are related to family members and the part they played in their life.  Here we will see about Can I Write About My Eating Disorder In College Essays?

Eating disorder is a mental illness that many remain uneducated about, so it’s generally recommended not to write an essay about it. People familiar with various eating disorders have either friends or family who dealt with it or dealt with it themselves. Many people have false assumptions about this mental illness based on loose descriptions shown in TV shows and movies. 

When it comes to writing a college essay, people will recommend a student to write about something that highlights the positive aspects of their lives. It could be about how you solved a difficult problem that you faced during a tough moment, personal growth essays about if anything happened in your life that made you change your beliefs, and many more. The main theme remains that you learned something positive out of it. 

Recovering from an eating disorder can indeed be an amazing topic, but there is no guarantee that everybody would look at it the same way. If a student is determined to write an essay about this topic, they should word it carefully and focus essentially on the recovery part of the eating disorder than the tough times that it put you through. Unfortunately, many people still view mental illnesses as a crucial weakness in a person and you never know who’s going to be the one reading your essay and their personal experiences with the topic. 

As long as you keep the focus of your essay on how powerful your growth out of an eating disorder has been, it can be a good college essay. 

Write about Eating Disorder and Other Mental Illnesses in College Essays

People often suggest against delving into issues that involve mental illnesses to write college essays, it’s often recommended that if you want to include your battle with an eating disorder in your essay, do it in a manner so that it doesn’t remain the focus of the essay. Why do people say that and why is it often recommended not to write about this?

The truth is that even though a student might highlight how much they’re fought to overcome the psychological imbalances in their body, it doesn’t leave a good impression on most college admission boards. Shifting from high school to college is a big deal, and it’s like the first step into adulthood where you won’t be confined to the safety of your home. College is much more stressful and competitive than high school where you have to stay on top of the game to excel in your field. 

A student that holds enough value to the mental illness that they fought to the point where they write about it in their college essay, there is a chance for relapse. College is a stressful environment where even the students that don’t suffer from mental illnesses suffer mental breakdowns. If you put a person who already dealt with that in the past, it’s uncertain how they’d react to this change even if they’re on medication or they’re still getting counseling. 

If a student’s desired college has a high acceptance rate, they could write about their journey recovering from an eating disorder and still get accepted. If they’re aiming for a top school with a less than average acceptance rate, then it’s recommended to choose a topic that sheds most of the light on the positive moments of their life and qualities that show their mental strength. 

Colleges with a low acceptance rate and high graduation rate only choose students who show the determination to thrive under a lot of stress. If a student discusses mental illnesses such as an eating disorder in their essay, there are high chances of them not getting accepted even if they have amazing grades and good references.

You Make The Ultimate Decision

The truth is that some essays surrounding an eating disorder can be well-received by your college of choice. It depends vastly on chance. The chances of getting into a top school with an essay like that are low because many people choose to write about various mental illnesses that they suffered from. 

The bottom line is that it depends on how you word it and how your college admission board will perceive it. Some exceptional writers can word their essays in a captivating way and engage the reader to emotionally tune in to their growth from this eating disorder. They strategically weave how much they grew from their experiences and shed as much positive light as they can upon their character after they overcame their mental health issues. 

There are no restrictions when it comes to writing a personal essay for college. As long as the experience was yours or if you feel strongly about the topic you chose, you’re free to write about it. This is one of the first things your college will look at when they look at your application and it shapes the way they view you as a person. If you’re confident about writing about your eating disorder and believe that it will shed a positive light on your application, you can write about it. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Eating Disorder Is Common Among College Students?

Anorexia and bulimia are not only common among college students but also two of the most common types of eating disorders globally. College students might also suffer from other types such as BED (Binge eating disorder) and EDNOS (Eating disorder not otherwise specified).

What Should I Avoid Writing In A College Essay?

Students generally avoid writing about controversial topics (such as related to politics), negative experiences they’ve had with high schools and academia in general, and a whole essay dedicated to the awards and achievements you’ve won since you were a child.

Home — Application Essay — Liberal Arts Schools — My Struggle with an Eating Disorder

My Struggle with an Eating Disorder

• University: Cornell University

About this sample

Words: 498 |

Updated: Nov 30, 2023

Words: 498 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

In this personal essay, I share a humorous yet poignant story of my quest for immunization records to attend a summer program at Brown University. Along the way, I inadvertently confront concerns about my eating disorder. The essay touches on medical mishaps, literary discussions, and my journey to obtain essential documents.

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- "Relate a clever anecdote from your life in which you make veiled references to your academic abilities, talents, and personality in the fashion of a college essay. Be neat."

Last summer, I was accepted to attend Brown University for a four-week creative writing program. However, there were a few more bureaucratic hoops I had to jump through before I could get on a plane to Providence. For starters, I needed to provide evidence of immunization.

I went straight to the source on this one: my parents.

- "Mom, have I been immunized?"

- "May I have the records to this? Preferably notarized. And mailed to this address by four p.m. today. Oh, and here's 37 cents. Thanks in advance."

Unfortunately, my mother had no such records. But perhaps my doctor did.

So, I called up the only clinic in the Sunbelt covered by my HMO and asked for my records. They informed me that only a doctor could access my records, because they apparently require Level 50 Pentagon clearance.

Unluckily for me, my HMO doesn't cover medical expenses incurred as a result of "injury" or "disease." Furthermore, the operations that they do cover (currently limited to animalist rituals and blood donation) requires co-payments most third party campaigns couldn't afford. However, these records were vital, so I asked my parents for money, and drove down to the clinic.

After a brief wait during which I read an outdated "Newsweek" highly critical of the McKinley administration, I met with Dr. Franklin, whose first words were "You've lost weight."

I realized then that in my fervor to obtain the records, I had overlooked the fact that my doctor had the silly notion that I was anorexic. Whoops. And I thought it was a bit suspicious that they weighed me before going in.

So, we got into an argument. She pounced on me for being "anorexic," and I sort of sat there and acquiesced. Then she wrote down on a little pad "Anorexia Nervosa" very patronizingly and slid it over. Again, acquiescence.

Fortunately, the mood changed, and we got into a discussion about literature. (The flow was: eating disorder --> repression --> social norms --> iconoclasm --> 20th century authors) Apparently, she personally knew Kurt Vonnegut many years back, which I thought was pretty interesting, since I loved Cat's Cradle.

In the end, she suggested I read Siddhartha (which I would find interesting, but not astounding) and said the Brown trip would be "therapeutic" for me. And she didn't have the immunization records.

That left me out a $20,000 co-payment and several hours of my time, all for a sticky note. In a final show of defiance, I placed the anorexia note on my breast and drove to my school, which would certainly have those useless records.

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The dramatic irony of this final scene exists in that I did not know I was still wearing the note. But it all worked out, as I would go on to successfully attend Brown without spreading my horrible infections to very many people.

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Best Food Essay Examples

Eating disorder.

1107 words | 4 page(s)

Anorexia nervosa is a social problem that affects many young people in the American culture due to the issues of body image and the perception of being too fat. Idealized beauty images of women who are portrayed in media representations as thin and attractive can be a contributing factor in the development of anorexia nervosa. These issues have wide psychological and social implications, which the Karen Carpenter story brings to light. Her losing battle with the most devastating effects of the disease, including heart failure and death at the early age of 32, was an example for the world in the 1980s to learn the underlying causes of anorexia. However, the issues of anorexia nervosa are still an important problem today which continues to take the lives of young girls in the prime of life.

There are three major forms of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder (Maher, 2014). All three of these types of disorders are physiologically and psychologically harmful to the young people who are suffering. They are associated with various progressive diseases, up to and including death as the Karen Carpenter story clearly demonstrated. The statistics on anorexia nervosa are alarmingly high. 0.9% of American women suffer from anorexia in their lifetime (Hudson et al., 2007). The condition will cause a person to lose so much weight that they will appear emaciated and deathly ill to observers—which, in fact, they are—and yet they will refuse to eat any normal portions of food.

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Of all the eating disorders, anorexia nervosa is the most prevalent disease that causes early death. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (http://www.anad.org) stated that between 5-10% of anorexics die within 10 years, either from suicide or actual death by starvation and its associated complications. Yet only 1-10 people with anorexia receive comprehensive treatment. They are frequently sent home without effective medical prescriptions or any type of help. A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5 – 10% of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease; 18-20% of anorexics will be dead after 20 years and only 30 – 40% ever fully recover (ANAD, 2016). These figures are even more shocking when taking into account that young girls between the ages of 18-24 are the most common victims. Anorexic girls may go to great lengths to hide the fact that they are not eating to their families; they may pretend to be eating at mealtimes and the family may not notice until they have lost so much weight that the condition is unmistakable. Meanwhile, in girls who are not receiving psychological treatment the rates of suicide also are likely to rise (Arcelus et al., 2011). This factor is an obvious circumstance of the necessity for both psychological and physical medical attention concurrently. “Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is a ratio between the observed number of deaths in a study population and the number of deaths would be expected. SMR for anorexia nervosa is 5.86” (Arcelus et al., 2011). These high rates of suicide indicate that the social problems of anorexia nervosa go much deeper than the issues of beauty image and dieting for body awareness. For people who have anorexia nervosa, the importance of following a behavioral/cognitive psychological treatment plan may be the only program that can save their lives.

Yet in many cases the real physiological health issues associated with anorexia nervosa are not treated seriously within the psychological community, which has exacerbated these issues: “the focus of psychiatric epidemiology has shifted towards the community…assignment to a diagnostic category may stretch such categories to the point where they assume a tenuous relationship with what had been originally intended” (Szmukler, 2013, p. 143). What this essentially means is that a young woman who has an eating disorder will not be treated for her symptoms until it is actually too late to make a positive difference. By the time she has begun to fit into a diagnostic category, the harmful damage on her body will have gone too far.

Because these kinds of eating disorders are associated with feelings of shame and a poor body self-image in young women, these issues are frequently hidden from others so that really no one knows about it until it is too late. “Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness affecting predominantly young women, characterized by self-induced starvation, endocrine dysregulation, and comorbid psychiatric disease” (Lawson et al., 2013, p. 451). For these reasons, it is hard to determine the exact numbers of people who have eating disorders. Also, most insurance companies do not provide coverage for eating disorders so that makes it even more difficult to provide exact statistics. In short, eating disorders are not classified as a disease until they have progressed to a point of crisis such as occurred with Karen Carpenter. Noone actually knew about her condition, as a celebrity singer in The Carpenters duo, where she and her brother sang together and earned Grammy awards and other important celebrity recognition.

As far as a solution to the major issues involved with anorexia nervosa, there are many organizations online which can point to increased awareness and support groups. Due to the high statistics on anorexia as an adolescent and young girls’ issue, beauty image factors and the explicit cultural role where the advertising media promotes thinness as an attainable and desirable goal seems central to the problem. It is highly unlikely that the advertising corporations will be changing their approach any time soon. Beauty and self-image in young girls will continue to have a prominent role in advertising and media culture. The psychological and social aspects of body image, therefore, must be an important concern within the family, the education system, and the cultural representation of women in American society.

• ANAD (2016). Your future is worth fighting for. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Retrieved from http://www.anad.org/
• Arcelus, J., Mitchell, A. J., Wales, J., & Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: a meta-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7), 724-731.
• Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348–358.
• Lawson, E. A., Holsen, L. M., Santin, M., DeSanti, R., Meenaghan, E., Eddy, K. T., … & Klibanski, A. (2013). Postprandial oxytocin secretion is associated with severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in anorexia nervosa. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(5), 451-457.
• Maher, I. (2014, Oct. 2). What’s new in eating disorders treatment and research. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved from http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/qa-whats-new-in-eating-disorders-treatment-and-research/2200489
• Szmukler, G. I. (2013). The epidemiology of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 19, 143-153.

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Essay about eating disorder?

I had a long post written out before, but I decided to delete it because the post was VERY detailed. That said, I was thinking about making my CA essay about my eating disorder and how I turned this weakness (poor self-confidence, basically) into a strength (setting my mind to achieving anything). Thoughts? Also, if you want to read my academic profile to see how it would go along with this topic idea, you can read that here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1894117-is-nyu-or-usc-a-dream-or-a-possibility.html#latest

You should not post your essay online, it opens you up to plagiarism risk. You have time to edit.

@intparent this is not my essay AT ALL. I was just elaborating on what my essay would be about. I would not be using any of the text I have posted here.

@intparent are you saying I should still take it down?

In general, I would not write on this. Don’t take the prompts too literally – remember that the college admissions office didn’t make up these prompts, they are from the Common App. You want topics that make them want you on campus. Anything about any kind of mental health disorder is a risk. If you feel a need to write about it, do it in a diary or talk with a therapist (and I genuinely mean that) – but don’t do it in your college essays. There is more to you than your eating disorder – show them that.

This type of question comes up every year. The consensus is the same: why write about something that would give a college a reason to be concerned about admitting you? I’ll grant you that writing about overcoming a problem seems like a strong response. I would not go there.

First off, congratulations on overcoming an eating disorder! They are nasty, nasty things that ruin lives. Never being hospitalized or officially diagnosed doesn’t make it less hard on you. Kudos, for real.

That being said, I don’t see this as a particularly compelling college essay. At least the way you describe it, you overcame your eating disorder by “setting your mind to it”-- while I’m glad you’ve recovered, this description seems to kind of blame a lot of people who continue to suffer with eating disorders. It doesn’t leave a great taste in my mouth, and I can’t imagine it would for the adcom reading either, especially if they had a close family member/friend with an ED. The background about middle school seems important when explaining how it started, but seems really out of place in a college essay-- if the thoughts of high schoolers are rarely organized into interesting thoughts/essays, thoughts of middle schoolers are probably more trivial.

Being vegan could be done if done right; I would leave out how it stemmed from an eating disorder, and avoid any harsh language against the typical diet with meat and dairy. At best, it comes off as “just another one of those preachy vegans…”, which may turn off an adcom. If you can spin it like it’s what you believe in morally and you don’t care if you get flak for it, and then show other examples of how your resistance to following the crowd has helped you in life (again, being careful to avoid “other kids partied, i studied, now i’m valedictorian and they work at mcdonald’s!” shaming language) then I think it could be a cool read.

@intparent Thank you for your honest opinion. I definitely agree with what you’re saying, but my idea was to show how I overcame the eating disorder and how it made me a stronger person mentally, physically, and academically. By overcoming it (with no treatment or therapy, FYI), I also proved to myself that I am capable of anything I set my mind to. Similarly, my “defining characteristic” would be about how I’m now vegan and how that has shaped my world view, too. If you still feel like this is too risky/too personal/doesn’t really showcase all I have, I would love some more advice. I’m really coming at this openly.

It is, bluntly, not a good topic. Pick something completely different.

@novafan1225 thank you for your genuine feedback! I figured I’d be getting some responses like the ones I have been getting, and I truthfully think it’s healthy for me to get this upfront advice. Yeah, I’m strongly leaning towards the vegan topic (and no, I am definitely not a “preachy” vegan, and people I know would tell you that, but I know a few who are haha). I also have never been one to “follow the crowd,” like growing up making YouTube videos despite people making fun of me, so I’m thinking of taking that spin (not necessarily the videos part, but the part about not following the crowd). Thanks again!

Let me +1 on the “don’t write about xxxxxx mental health problem”. Colleges might fail to admit you because they’re worried about something happening to you because you might fall into relapse. Suppose someone decided to write about overcoming depression. If that student relapses and commits suicide on campus or something (like in a dorm), it won’t look very good on the school.

Don’t pick a topic that can give the impression that you are mentally unstable, preachy, or just plain annoying.

This is very close to home for my family. Our daughter overcame an eating disorder. Her struggle concluded near the end of the tenth grade. Her overall profile as a High School student was extremely strong. The list of schools she was applying to was quite reach heavy. We had the discussion about how risky it was to write her primary essay about her experience with an eating disorder. As her parent I was troubled by the thought of an admissions person thinking less of our wonderful daughter, the thought of her entire High School experience being dismissed because of she being perceived as a risky admit. Our daughter understood the risk, I was so intent on protecting her that I encouraged her to not to write about her eating disorder. She decided to, she felt she had to no matter the consequences. I supported her decision because it was her decision to make. I was very concerned though. It worked out for her. I do believe she was extremely fortunate! Best Wishes for your continued good health, and good luck to you!

GOOD LUCK!!!

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