According to the Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association research, the following statistics reveal the severity of eating disorders in college students. Eating Disorders affect people of all ages, but are especially prominent among college students.

• 15% of Women 17-24 have eating disorders
• 40% of female college students have eating disorders
• 91% of female college students have attempted to control their weight through dieting
• 1-7% of college males have eating disorders

With this information, it is important to know how to identify the different types of eating disorders that effect college men and women. Below you will find information on how to identify the symptoms of various eating disorders as provided by George Washinton University professor Jaqueline Johnson.

Anorexia Nervosa

• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above minimally normal weight for age and height
• Or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth (weight less than 85% of that expected)
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
• Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced
• Undue influence of body weight or shape on self evaluation
• Denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight
• Amenorrhea (no period for women)

Bulimia Nervosa

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Binge eating is characterized by both of the following
  • Eating, in a discrete period of time (2-hours) an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
  • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episodes
• Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain such as: self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, emetics, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise
• The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months
• Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
• The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa

Binge Eating Disorders

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Binge eating is characterized by both of the following
  • Eating, in a discrete period of time (2-hours) an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
  • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episodes
• The binge eating episodes are associated with three or more of the following:
  • Eating more rapidly than normal
  • Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
  • Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
  • Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
  • Feel disgusted with oneself depressed, or very guilty after overeating
• Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
• The binge eating occurs, on average at least 2 days a week for 6 months
• The binge eating is not associated with the regular use on inappropriate compensatory behaviors and does not occur exclusively during the course of Anorexia or Bulimia

Muscle Dysmorphia

• A preoccupation with the ideal that one's body is not sufficiently lean and muscular
• Characteristic associated behaviors include long hours of lifting weights and excessive attention to diet
• Preoccupation is manifested by at least two of the following four criteria
  1. The individual frequently gives up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of a compulsive need to maintain his/her workout and diet schedule
  2. The individual avoids situations where his/her body is exposed to others, or endures such situations with marked distress or intense anxiety.
  3. The preoccupation about the inadequacy of body size or musculature causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
  4. The individual continues to work out, diet, or use ergogenic (performance enhancing substances) despite knowledge of adverse physical or psychological consequences
• The primary focus of the preoccupation and behaviors is on being too small or inadequately muscular
• Distinguished from fear of being fat as in anorexia nervosa, or a primary preoccupation only with other aspects of appearance as in other forms of body dysmorphic disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

• A preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern is markedly excessive
• The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
• The preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder

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