Negative body image impacts many college students, and can lead to even more significant issues such as eating disorders and depression if left unaddressed.
There’s a lot of societal pressure to look a certain way and many people are not happy with their reflection in the mirror. If your reflection leaves you feeling down about yourself, interferes with your relationships, or leads you to unhealthy diets or excessive exercise, we are here to help.
The truth is that healthy bodies come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Focus on taking care of your body without worrying about whether you’re ‘too’ big or small. Choose a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and enjoyable physical activity as a way to feel better and live longer.
About Eating Disorders
Eating disorders encompass a wide range of behaviors, symptoms and experiences. The
behaviors usually include unhealthy strategies to promote weight loss including dieting,
counting calories, purging, excessive exercise and the abuse of diet pills or laxatives.
Students experiencing eating disorders are more likely to judge their worth as a person by their appearance and weight. Individuals struggling with eating disorders often experience depressive and/or anxiety symptoms including sadness, low energy, worry and withdrawal from life activities and relationships. These issues impact a wide variety of students of all races, ethnicity, gender, and lifestyle.
Addressing an eating disorder
Seek help from a professional. For additional information about services offered at the Pat Walker Health Center, please call CAPS at 479-575-5276.