BY NEEL SWAMY
Regardless of
where one attends college, there is no denying that at some point, both male
and female students will or have find themselves bombarded by the idea of the Freshman
15, a nickname given to the trend of weight gain that first year students often
experience during their early college experiences. Indeed, the notion of
gaining weight is one often associated with images of overeating at the dining
hall, shoving ice cream into one’s mouth late at night or avoiding all exercise
in general. As a result of this stereotype, college dining halls have
implemented several programs to limit such weight gain, such as including
nutritional information next to a dish and serving an overwhelming proportion
of fruits and vegetables.
Yet despite
these efforts, eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, continue
to be common conditions among university students. As argued by journalist
Jennifer Smith, a writer for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and
Associated Disorders, eating disorders, when unrecognized, can result in hair
loss, damage to the heart or bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Thus, Smith
argues, it is vital that students on college campuses have access to dietitians, nutritionists and other health doctors who can work with students
to stop such disorders from wreaking havoc on learning and well being. In
addition, Smith argues, students should be aware of the signs of an eating
disorder, which can help them address the needs of their peers before physical
or psychological damage is inflicted. This is especially important because
eating disorders can limit learning and lead to depression or other mental
conditions.
At the
University of Michigan, it is important that we support not only our own
bodies, but also the minds and well being of our fellow Wolverines. We tend to
think of eating disorders as conditions that exist only on a television screen,
but they are in reality dangerous forces that can hinder development and the
college experience. By focusing on positive body image and maintaining a
healthy, yet balanced, diet, we can reduce the influence that eating disorders
have on our campus and promote the health of the Team as a whole! Go Blue!
Questions for Reflection
How can we, as
students, become more aware of the impact of eating disorders? What can we do
for our own bodies to prevent such conditions from occurring? What small
actions can we perform to ensure the well being of our peers? What can we do to
raise attention to the fact that EDs can affect anyone?
Sources
http://www.anad.org/news/the-hidden-health-crisis-on-campus-eating-disorders/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721327/
This is an important topic that remains untouched by most first-year introduction discussions. Eating disorders are very serious and difficult to deal with. People remain unaware of the struggles others are going through with their self-image and as a result, those in need receive little support. I think one of the best things to do is raise awareness. School is stressful enough for most and adding more problems to the mix does not help. With knowing more about eating disorders, people will better understand the challenge that those with EDs face everyday. Support is the easiest thing that can be provided and is very beneficial.
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