College transition might actually affect your eating habits


What is it about college that makes it a prime time for mindless eating issues to appear? Is it the college food? Is it the competitive environment? Or, maybe it's the stress? Well, it's a little of all these things and more.

The pressure of college is one significant factor. Intense academic competition, whopping financial loans, relationships issues, being away from home, loneliness, parents' expectations, substance use, difficult roommates, and sexuality issues are just a few of the factors involved. Many of my clients have shared with me the enormous demands of college life.

Tina, a junior in college, reported being verbally abused by her boss at her campus job. Her boss was also going to be her professor next quarter for a required class. Without the job, she couldn't afford to stay enrolled in college. Each day she juggled a job she hated, serious financial debt, and mountains of homework. She felt like one wrong step could ruin it all. Some students already have food issues before they arrive at college and the stressful environment just exacerbates or maintains a preexisting issue.

On top of all the stress that comes from being a student, once you enter college, you shoulder the sole responsibility for feeding yourself. It may sound like no big deal, but really it is. There are no longer parents to instruct and guide your food choices like reminding you to eat a piece of fruit or handing out granola bars. There's no longer a personal chef (aka your primary caregiver) preparing meals.

Instead, you are in charge of every food decision and purchase. Sometimes adding just one more responsibility can be too much. The added responsibilities can tip someone with the predisposition for eating issues over the edge. For example, let's say a person feels very out of control. She is frequently kicked out of her dorm room when her roommate has her boyfriend over, and she is struggling to pass one of her prerequisite classes. The pressure is too much but she doesn't know how to cope.

Over- or undereating issues may emerge as a way to get back a sense of feeling in control. When a person feels in control of eating and body weight, it can be a substitute for feeling powerless within a chaotic and demanding environment. College transitional factors include:

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This article was sent to us by: Katherine Foyere at 12182010

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