College is often a transformative time in a person’s life, but it’s not without its challenges. With newfound independence, academic pressures, and social adjustments, students may face significant stress. Unfortunately, for some, these challenges can contribute to the development or exacerbation of eating disorders. Virtual care offers a valuable solution for college students struggling with eating disorders, providing accessible, flexible, and effective treatment options during this critical period of their lives.
The Prevalence of Eating Disorders in College Students
Eating disorders are alarmingly prevalent among college students. According to a study conducted in 2013 by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), between 10 and 20% of females and 4 to 10% of males in college suffer from an eating disorder, and rates are on the rise. Young women are particularly vulnerable, with another study estimating that 13.5% of female college students experience symptoms of eating disorders. Males, too, face significant challenges, with approximately 3.6% of male students reporting struggles with eating disorders.
Some triggers for eating disorders during college can include:
- Academic Stress: Staying up all night or skipping meals to study for exams, or feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to maintain high grades, can lead to neglecting proper eating habits.
- Social Pressures: Trying to fit in with peers, navigating new social environments, or experiencing isolation can lead to harmful coping mechanisms like disordered eating.
- Body Image Concerns: Being surrounded by societal and cultural expectations, as well as exposure to diet culture’s “ideal” body types, can exacerbate unhealthy and negative perceptions of one’s own body.
Financial Difficulties: Struggling to afford healthy meals or feeling stress from managing finances independently can impact eating patterns and overall nutrition. - Transitioning to Independent Living: Adjusting to a new lifestyle, managing time, and making independent food choices can be overwhelming, leading to irregular eating habits or unhealthy coping mechanisms.
- Athletic Pressures: College athletes often face intense performance demands and weight or body composition requirements, which can lead to restrictive eating, overexercising, or other disordered behaviors in an effort to meet expectations.
- Sorority and Fraternity Culture: Participation in Greek life can involve social and appearance-related pressures, as well as events or activities that may emphasize body image or dieting, contributing to disordered eating triggers.
All of these can be amplified by the college campus environment. Furthermore, the college years coincide with the typical age of onset for many eating disorders. Research shows that 2.7% of teens will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, and 13% of adolescents will develop an eating disorder by the age of 20. This critical period includes common eating disorder diagnoses such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Barriers to Traditional In-Person Treatment for Eating Disorders That College Students Face
Despite the pressing need for care, many college students face obstacles to accessing traditional in-person treatment for eating disorders:
- Busy Schedules: Students often juggle classes, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities, leaving little time to commute to in-person therapy sessions.
- Stigma: Fear of judgment or being misunderstood can deter students from seeking help on campus.
- Limited Resources: Many college counseling centers are understaffed and often lack specialists trained in eating disorder treatment.
- Financial Constraints: Paying for treatment can be a significant barrier, particularly for students without adequate insurance coverage.
These barriers highlight the need for a more accessible and flexible eating disorder treatment model.
The Benefits of Virtual Care for Eating Disorder Treatment
Virtual care addresses many of the challenges college students face in accessing treatment, offering a convenient and effective alternative.
- Accessibility: Students can attend therapy sessions from the comfort of their dorm rooms or apartments, eliminating the need for travel. This is particularly helpful for those attending schools in rural or underserved areas where specialized eating disorder care may not be readily available.
- Flexibility: Virtual therapy sessions can often be scheduled around a student’s academic and personal commitments, making it easier to prioritize treatment without disrupting daily life as a college student.
- Specialized Care: Virtual platforms often connect students with specialists who have expertise in treating eating disorders, providing access to evidence-based interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family-based treatment (FBT), and nutritional counseling.
- Empowered Communication: Virtual care creates a space where students can engage openly with eating disorder professionals in a way that feels comfortable and less intimidating, fostering honesty and deeper connections that are essential for meaningful progress in their eating disorder recovery journey.
- Continuity of Care: For students who live far from home or frequently travel, virtual care ensures they can maintain consistent treatment regardless of their location.
While traditional in-person treatment approaches remain powerful tools for recovery, growing evidence suggests that virtually delivered care is both convenient and impactful. Results from a 2021 study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Center for Eating Disorders indicate that “patients experience significant improvements in ED symptoms during virtual treatment delivery.” Additionally, a 2020 statistical review revealed that clients participating in virtual intensive outpatient programming (VIOP) for the treatment of eating disorders “showed significant and clinically meaningful improvements in all outcomes measured, including self-reported eating disorder symptoms, depression, self-esteem, quality of life, and overall satisfaction.” The review concluded that VIOP is feasible, acceptable, and leads to meaningful changes in eating and mood disorder symptoms.
An Overview of Prosperity Eating Disorder and Wellness Center’s Eating Disorder Approach to Treatment and Programs
Prosperity’s innovative, gender-inclusive programs seek to meet clients quite literally wherever they are, both in the recovery process and across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our programs offer comprehensive, engaging care to address the complex challenges of recovery. Clients gain tools to manage distress, challenge the beliefs that support their eating disorder, and enjoy the support of a caring community of professionals and peers. Clients are linked with a dedicated individual treatment team, consisting of both nutrition and therapy providers, who meet with them individually each week to monitor progress and collaborate on their unique recovery path.
Our Approach For Our Clients
Prosperity subscribes to the Health At Every Size® (HAES®) approach and an All Foods Fit model:
- Nutrition Sessions: Focus on a ‘non-diet’ approach emphasizing building a long-lasting, positive relationship with food.
- Group Therapy Sessions: Consist of evidence-based approaches and are hosted in a safe, peaceful, and encouraging environment. Our goal is to empower individuals to heal, thrive, and live their lives victoriously.
- Inclusivity: We accept clients with all eating disorder diagnoses, including a separate tract for Binge Eating Disorder.
Our Treatment Program Details
Our programming offers three different times that can fit your schedule. Clients can see their therapist and dietitian in-person at either of our Virginia locations (Reston or Norfolk) or virtually.
- IOP includes weekly individual therapy and nutrition counseling with providers that specialize in eating disorders.
- Group topics include intuitive eating and nutrition education, body image, cognitive restructuring, processing of current life stressors, and empowering relationships.
At Prosperity, we believe it is vital for our clients to understand how they developed an eating disorder, how it has been maintained, and how to live a full life without one. Self-discovery, finding joy and purpose, and maintaining a healthy relationship with self and others are what drive our therapy.
Research supports the effectiveness of virtual care for eating disorder treatment. A study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that virtual CBT was just as effective as in-person therapy for reducing eating disorder symptoms. Similarly, virtual family-based treatment has shown promising outcomes for adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa.
By leveraging virtual care, students can access the treatment they need without compromising their academic or personal responsibilities, improving their chances of full eating disorder recovery and overall well-being.
Taking the First Step in Your Eating Disorder Recovery Journey
Struggling with an eating disorder in college can feel overwhelming, but help is available. Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center offers Virtual Outpatient Programs and Virtual Support Groups to provide flexible, evidence-based care tailored to individual needs. Our programs are designed to help you navigate recovery, offering structured support and a compassionate community of highly-trained eating disorder professional experts and peers—all from the comfort of your own space.
These programs include weekly sessions with dedicated treatment teams that specialize in nutrition and therapy for eating disorders. Clients also participate in group discussions focusing on topics like intuitive eating, body image, and managing life’s challenges.
Don’t let the challenges of college life stand in the way of your mental health and recovery. With virtual care, healing from eating disorders and improving your overall well-being is always within reach. Explore how Prosperity’s virtual care can support your unique eating disorder recovery journey by visiting Prosperity’s Outpatient and Virtual Services page.
