Concerns about diet, weight and attractiveness are prevalent among Stanford students. These concerns can lead to unhealthy preoccupations with body weight and eating, affecting self-esteem, well-being, and vitality. When preoccupations become serious, they can lead to significant health problems. Eating problems fall within a broad spectrum of eating-related feelings, attitudes, and behaviors.
Disordered eating is more common. Sometimes a person’s attitude toward food, weight, and their body leads to restrictive eating habits and/or rigid and excessive exercise, both of which can jeopardize health and well-being.
Eating disorders are less common, but quite serious. These are the conditions known as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, which are clinical disorders that affect 3-4 percent of students, with the prevalence highest among young women
Struggling with eating problems can be painful and frightening. The first step to overcoming an eating problem is acknowledging that you have a problem. Often this can be the most difficult step. An important aspect of this is realizing that your eating behaviors and distressed feelings are impacting your food choices, as well as other aspects of your life.
The next step is to talk with professionals who are experienced in helping students who struggle with eating problems. Treatment can comprise many elements, including nutritional counseling, education, individual and/or group counseling, and, when needed, medical monitoring.
Proven approaches can effectively prevent, reduce, or stop troublesome behaviors while helping people develop new and positive ways of coping with underlying feelings.
If you or a friend needs additional support in making healthier choices, consider the following resources:
Self-Assessment
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Care and Treatment
Wellness/Health Promotion Services offers nutrition counseling
for assistance with nutrition, weight management, body image, and eating problems, such as disordered eating and clinical eating disorders. Services include educational activities, individual nutrition counseling, consultation, and referrals.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available for confidential assessment, therapy, medication management, and referrals for a range of nutritional, body image, and disordered eating concerns. An appointment can be scheduled during normal business hours through our triage system triage system. An on-call clinician can be contacted at 650-723-3785 for urgent situations any time, including evenings and weekends.
Medical Services at Vaden provides help with nutritional disorders, disordered eating, and their complications.
We will help determine if you should be evaluated by eating disorder specialists from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. This team provides onsite medical and nutritional services for students who require intensive, ongoing medical care and monitoring. A referral from Vaden Health Center and Cardinal Care or private insurance is required for specialty consultations.
It is difficult to watch a friend or loved one struggle with disordered eating. You may want to help but don’t know how. Helping a Friend provides some guidance.
Education and Health Promotion
Body Image, Nutrition, and Eating Disorder Resources
Nutrition Counseling
Healthy Body Image Program
Eating Disorders
Academic Courses
Workshops & Presentations
Resources
Internships
Student Groups
