Eating Disorders in College Students: Risk Factors, Signs, and 5 Ways to Help

College is a time of growth, independence, and new beginnings. However, for many young adults, it also comes with overwhelming pressure, emotional strain, and a deep sense of uncertainty. As a result, some students turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like disordered eating. They might start restricting foods, bingeing late at night while studying, or obsessing over their weight and body image. And over time, these behaviors can progress into a full-blown eating disorder.

Having eating disorders in college can be devastating for young adults’ mental health, physical well-being, relationships, and academic performance. But these issues often go unnoticed, especially when the person doesn’t fit the stereotypical idea of what an eating disorder looks like. Recognizing the types of eating disorders, their warning signs, and the risk factors that drive them can help support early intervention and lasting recovery.

Clinically reviewed by Kara Becker, LMFT, CEDS, AAMFT, National Director of Eating Disorder Programs, Newport Healthcare

What You’ll Learn

• How many college students have eating disorders?
• What are the risk factors for developing an eating disorder in college?
• What are the signs of the most common eating disorders?
• What are the best ways to support young adults with eating disorders?

How Many College Students Have Eating Disorders?

Unfortunately, college-age students are more vulnerable to eating disorders than any other age group. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, the median age of onset for binge eating disorder is 21, while anorexia and bulimia typically begin around age 18, right when many young adults are starting college. 

A 2025 study of nearly 30,000 college students, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, revealed the following statistics about eating disorders in college:

• About 13 percent of college students experience symptoms of eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or a combination. While some differences emerged, such as higher rates of anorexia among Asian women and higher rates of bulimia and binge eating among Hispanic women, the overall prevalence was similar across populations.
• Bulimia and binge eating disorder were the most common EDs impacting college students, affecting up to 18 percent of women and 12 percent of men. Anorexia was less common, seen in about 2–4% percent of women and fewer than 1 percent of men. 
• The study also found a strong link between eating disorders and other mental health conditions. Nearly 80 percent of women and 68 percent of men with an eating disorder also showed signs of major depressive disorder. These issues are often treated as separate, but they’re deeply interconnected. That’s why early screening for eating disorders, especially when a student is struggling with anxiety, depression, or substance use, can be so beneficial.

Eating Disorder Risk Factors in College

There’s no single cause of an eating disorder. For most young adults, it’s not only about food. For college students, stress, social comparison, loneliness, time away from the structure of home, underlying mental health struggles, and academic demands can all contribute to a feeling of being unsafe. 

At their core, eating disorders often reflect unmet needs for stability, safety, belonging, or self-worth. But the need to please others (professors, peers, or family) can compound stress and leave little room for the young adult’s own feelings and needs. 

Recognizing the wide range of risk factors can help parents and young adults alike understand how to navigate disordered eating. When you’re able to look beyond the surface, you can begin to understand what a young person is really carrying and help them feel less alone in it. 

Common risk factors for eating disorders in college include:

• Using food to cope with emotional challenges: Students who are experiencing loneliness, homesickness, stress, anxiety, or academic overload may use food to numb or distract from their emotions.
• Perfectionism and people-pleasing: Many students have been praised for their achievements their entire lives, and the demands of college push them to be even more “perfect.” Perfectionism can show up as body control and rigidity in eating habits, such as orthorexia or other strict food rules. 
• Body image struggles: Feeling disconnected or dissatisfied with your body is common in adolescence and early adulthood. Poor body image can become a constant source of distress, driving restrictive eating or over-exercising.
• An urgent desire to feel in control: When life feels uncertain because of factors like academic stress, relationship changes, or mental health challenges, controlling food intake or exercise routines can become a coping mechanism, providing a fleeting sense of relief.
• Cultural and social pressure: Whether it’s on social media or in a dorm or locker room, college provides many opportunities for young adults to compare themselves to others in terms of physical appearance. For female athletes, the risk of disordered eating is even higher.
• History of anxiety or depression: Students with past or ongoing mental health issues may be more vulnerable to disordered eating, especially if those issues haven’t been fully addressed. An eating disorder can develop as a way to manage or numb emotional pain. One study found that people with eating disorders also have a higher prevalence of depression, social anxiety, and self-harm.
• Stress related to identity: For students from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and first-generation American students, college can add additional layers of stress. Navigating environments where they don’t feel fully safe or seen can increase the likelihood of using food and body control as ways to cope.

Types of Eating Disorders

While eating disorders look different for everyone, people with any type of ED frequently experience anxiety around food, co-occurring mental health challenges, and emotional distress tied to breaking food rules. But different eating disorders often manifest in different ways. Therefore, a professional evaluation with an eating disorder expert is essential in order for young adults to get the right diagnosis and treatment. 

Here are the three most common types of eating disorders and the signs associated with each. 

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder among college students in America. It involves recurring episodes of eating large quantities of food, often quickly and to the point of discomfort, without purging. 

Behavioral Signs

• Consuming large quantities of food in a short time, even when not hungry
• Eating rapidly and to the point of physical discomfort
• Bingeing alone or in secret
• Stockpiling food or hiding food wrappers
• Dieting frequently without lasting results

Physical Signs

• Weight fluctuations
• Gastrointestinal distress
• Lethargy, fatigue, or low energy

Emotional Signs

• Using food to cope with stress, boredom, or emotional pain
• Feeling shame, disgust, or guilt after eating
• Hopelessness or depression
• Emotional numbing or disconnection
• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Co-occurring anxiety or substance use

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia involves cycles of binge eating (consuming large amounts of food in a short amount of time), followed by behaviors meant to prevent weight gain. These can include vomiting, excessive exercise, taking laxatives, or some combination of these.

Behavioral Signs

• Evidence of binge eating (disappearance of large amounts of food, hidden food wrappers)
• Frequent trips to the bathroom during or after meals
• Signs of self-induced vomiting (callused knuckles, dental issues, or breath odor)
• Using laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills
• Excessive, rigid exercise routines that interfere with daily life

Physical Signs

• Tooth enamel erosion, cavities, or sore throat
• Digestive issues, including acid reflux or constipation
• Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeat
• Dehydration and bloating

Emotional Signs

• Intense guilt or shame after eating
• Eating in secret or feeling out of control while eating
• Feelings of low self-worth and persistent anxiety
• Mood swings and emotional dysregulation

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is extreme food restriction due to body dysmorphia, an intense fear of gaining weight, or other factors. It can include restriction on its own, or restriction combined with excessive exercise.

Behavioral Signs

• Drastically limiting food intake or skipping meals entirely
• Avoiding social situations involving food
• Excessive and rigid exercise schedules
• Denying hunger or making excuses not to eat
• Obsessive weighing or body checking

Physical Signs

• Noticeable weight loss or being significantly underweight
• Fatigue, dizziness, or fainting
• Dry skin, brittle nails, or thinning hair
• Feeling cold all the time due to lowered body temperature
• Loss of menstrual period 
• Difficulty concentrating or brain fog

Emotional Signs

• Irritability or emotional flatness
• Co-occurring depression and/or anxiety

5 Ways to Support College Students with Eating Disorders

Struggling with an eating disorder in college can be an isolating and overwhelming experience. Early, informed, and compassionate support from parents, teachers, and healthcare providers can make a big difference in helping young adults learn to cope in healthier ways. Here are 5 ways to support your loved one.

1. Early intervention

Anxiety, depression, burnout, or a sudden drop in academic performance should always be addressed right away. If these issues are combined with any of the signs of eating disorders, comprehensive screening can lead to faster and more effective treatment. If you have a friend who is exhibiting signs of an eating disorder, here are some ways to talk to them about what they’re experiencing.

2. Access to providers with eating disorder expertise

Not all therapists or clinicians are trained in treating eating disorders, and even fewer specialize in this work with young adults. Ideally, students can work with providers who are trauma informed and attuned to the complex emotional, developmental, and identity challenges of this age group. 

3. Family involvement

Many newly fledged young adults feel pressured to handle everything on their own, but recovery is stronger and more sustainable when a trusted support network is involved. Whether that’s family, chosen family, or close friends, having people around you who can offer unconditional love, encouragement, and judgment-free care is deeply valuable.

4. Resources for stress management

College counseling services, mindfulness programs, body-positive messaging, peer support groups, and referrals to registered dietitians can all help students build resilience and reduce the emotional triggers that often underlie disordered eating. Creating a campus culture that supports mental and physical wellness benefits all students, not just those in crisis.

5. Comprehensive treatment options

Recovery requires healing wounds around self-worth, relationships, identity, and purpose. Healing environments that combine therapy with nutritional counseling, emotional support, and life skills education can help students regain a sense of control and purpose as they create a more relaxed relationship with food. These programs don’t just treat the disorder, they also help rebuild the foundation for a healthy future.

Treatment for Eating Disorders at Newport Institute

Newport Institute treats young adults (ages 18–35) with eating disorders and disordered eating alongside mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Our evidence-based, trauma‑informed clinical model is tailored to each person who walks through our doors.

Newport Healthcare’s treatment for primary mental health conditions and secondary eating disorders provides: 

Clinical and Psychiatric Care 

• Medication recommendations and ongoing medication management, as needed 
• Individual therapy to process past trauma and build healthy coping skills 
• Family therapy to restore connection and build stronger communication and trust between young adults and family members 
• Experiential therapy, such as yoga, outdoor adventures, music, and art, supporting clients to build a positive connection with their body and their abilities 

Dietary and Body Image Support 

• Dietary screenings and dietary groups with board-registered dietitians 
• Dietary plans and relapse prevention plans to take home, so clients can maintain and build on gains made in treatment 
• Body image groups and eating disorder–specific homework, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills 

Academic and Life Skills Programming 

• Assistance with college applications, admission, or navigating a mental health leave from college
• Support with life skills, including career planning, financial planning, and daily independent living skills 
• Executive functioning support, to enhance emotional regulation, organization skills, and self-awareness 

No matter what you or your loved one are experiencing, you don’t need to cope alone. We’re here to help. Get in touch for a free mental health assessment and no-obligation guidance on your next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions