Obstacles to Eating Well in College
Quiz Results
See
how you scored! Then read the informative article below on obstacles to eating well in college.
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Question |
Correct
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Your
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| 1. |
Bulimia is an effective way to control your weight. |
False
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False. Many college students overeat and then vomit or use laxatives to compensate for their overeating. They believe that this will get rid of the calories, thereby helping them to control their weight. In reality, many bulimics are overweight often as a result of this behavior. The binge/purge cycle confuses your body and you often feel hungry all of the time as a result. |
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| 2. |
You can’t eat cream cheese if you have lactose intolerance.
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False
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False. Be sure to check out the lactose content of foods. People wrongly assume that all dairy products need to be eliminated on a lactose-ree diet. Also, for many individuals, some foods containing lactose can still be consumed in limited quantities. |
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| 3.
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Men don’t get eating disorders.
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False
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False. Men can get eating disorders. The incidence of eating disorders in males is increasing. While women typically want to be skinny, men's eating issues
are more often characterized by an emphasis on obtaining a buff body and/or body dysmorphia, an extreme type of body image dissatisfaction. People with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) obsess about something they perceive is wrong with their body ... a body flaw that is magnified in their eyes only. |
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| 4. |
If you are lactose intolerant, you need to avoid all dairy products.
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False |
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False. People who are lactose intolerant will need to find their own individual tolerance. Certain dairy products, such as milk, are rich in lactose while others are not. Lactose intolerance varies from individual to individual. |
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Everyone who diets is at risk for developing an eating disorder.
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True and False
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True and False. Anyone who has an eating disorder has dieted at some point, but not everyone who diets will develop an eating disorder. Dieting is a risk factor for developing an eating disorder. |
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Obstacles to Eating Well in College
College students lament that everyone seems to be consumed by eating issues. While this is an exaggeration, one out of every two students is on a diet to lose weight, and an estimated 20-30 percent of students have some type of serious eating disorder. In addition, there are many college students who may float in and out of eating issues, plagued with what is called disordered eating. Layer on top of that clinical problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance and food allergies that require diet modifications, and it may seem like everyone has a food issue. (See Do You Have an Eating Problem? and Lactose and Calcium in Foods)
The classifications of eating disorders are:
- anorexia nervosa — hallmarks of this eating disorder are an overwhelming fear of being fat, weight loss, distorted body image, interruption of normal menses, refusal to maintain a normal weight and a preoccupation with food.
- bulimia — characterized by uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food and then compensating to get rid of the food by purging. Purging can take many forms including self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics and excessive exercise.
- binge eating disorder — reoccurring episodes of bingeing not compensated for by purging.
- eating disorders, not otherwise specified — This is typically a pattern of abnormal eating behaviors. These individuals, sometimes referred to as “disordered eaters,” lack one or more of the established criteria for an eating disorder. This disorder can be every bit as serious and is probably more pervasive than those listed above.
"Disordered eating" can be every bit as serious as anorexia and bulimia. |
The term “eating disorder” is actually a misnomer; it implies that the problem is rooted in eating, and the solution is simply to “fix” the eating problem. Eating disorders are in fact, a complex psycho-social problem characterized by obsessions about food, weight, and body image. The dieting behavior is almost always a symptom of a much larger problem, often requiring treatment by a team of health professionals.
The number of college students who are plagued with eating disorders is growing. Such disorders are occurring in men at an increased rate. You might observe unusual eating behavior in a friend, roommate or teammate. While you should never act as a therapist or doctor, you can be helpful in getting a student to treatment. (See Helping a Friend With an Eating Disorder)
Other diet problems may prove challenging to college students as well. Food restrictions resulting from diagnosed clinical problems such as lactose intolerance, food allergies and IBS do not need to be an obstacle to eating well on campus.
Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts abnormally to certain foods or ingredients. Food allergies can manifest as rashes, nasal congestion, nausea and diarrhea or even anaphylactic shock, which is life-threatening. The most common food allergens are peanuts, shellfish and eggs.
Problems such as lactose intolerance and IBS do not need to be an obstacle to eating well. |
Food intolerances are different because the immune system is not involved. When you have a food intolerance, the body isn’t able to digest a certain component of a particular food. Intolerances can involve many different foods and do not necessarily occur immediately after the food is eaten.
If your diet is restricted, it may be helpful to get a diet consultation from a registered dietitian either on campus or found through www.eatright.org.
Can healthy eating and college life go together? Absolutely! Get the nutrition facts you need in the book Eating Well on Campus by Ann Litt, M.S., R.D., L.D.
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