How to Tell if Your College Student Might Be Struggling With an Eating Disorder

By: Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center
​In collaboration with Megan Samuels, LCSW-C, Eating Disorder & Trauma Therapist

At The Eating Disorder Center, based in Rockville, Maryland (but providing eating disorder therapy in MD, DC, VA, FL, PA, FL, and NY, as well as recovery coaching worldwide) we work with clients ages 7 and up. 

We also work with a lot of college students who are struggling with eating disorders. As a parent, there is no guidebook for how to know if your teen or young adult is struggling with an eating disorder. It can be scary to start to notice signs and be unsure of what might be going on.
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If you suspect that your teen or young adult in college might be struggling with an eating disorder, it is crucial to get them to an eating disorder therapist for an evaluation. Early intervention can be helpful. Additionally, eating disorders can cause serious physical and mental health consequences if left untreated. Sadly, some people lose their life to an eating disorder. This is why it is so important to seek help from an eating disorder specialist if you think that a loved one is struggling.

As an eating disorder therapist in Rockville, Maryland, the following are some of the possible warning signs that your loved one could be struggling with an eating disorder. 


1. Your college student has been eating less than they were before.

Have you noticed that your loved one has been cutting down on their food intake? This could mean skipping meals or eating smaller portions during regular mealtimes. While there could be different reasons for this behavior, it might be a red flag for disordered eating and should be taken seriously.


2. Your college student is selective about what they eat.

Is your college student only eating a few specific foods or cutting out certain types like carbs or fats? While some pickiness is normal, this could be a warning sign of an eating disorder, especially if they’ve begun eliminating foods they used to enjoy. They might also be selective about what they eat due to a fear of aversive consequences like choking or vomiting, or they may show an overall disinterest in food.

It’s also important to note that some folks who are autistic and/or ADHDers may be selective eaters (absent an eating disorder). However, there are also individuals who are — both autistic and/or an ADHDer and struggling with an eating disorder. An eating disorder specialist can help you to tease this out for your loved one. The Eating Disorder Center is a neurodiversity affirming practice. 


3. Your college student spends extra time in the bathroom after meals.

Purging, which may involve self-induced vomiting, is a behavior associated with certain eating disorders. If your teenager or adult child regularly disappears into the bathroom after meals, it could indicate purging behaviors that need to be addressed.


4. Your college student either frequently criticizes their appearance or appears fixated on what they look like.

Is your college student expressing dissatisfaction with parts of their body, like their stomach or thighs? If they talk about wanting to lose weight to look a certain way, it may signal that they’re struggling with body image, which is often connected to disordered eating. Another warning sign is if they seem suddenly very fixated on their appearance and body. Additionally, they might start to become very afraid of weight gain — which can be another red flag for a potential warning sign of an eating disorder.


5. Your college student is over-exercising.

Has your college student started exercising more than usual, to the point where their routine seems strict or compulsive? If they refuse to take rest days or exercise through injuries, this could signal a strained relationship with both movement and food.


6. Your college student counts calories and/or focuses on “healthy” or “clean” foods.

If your loved one is overly concerned with calorie counting or only buying foods they consider “healthy” or “clean,” this behavior may indicate a restrictive eating pattern, which is often a sign of disordered eating.


7. Eating out is stressful for your college student.

Does your college student seem anxious when eating at restaurants? Do they fixate on the calories listed on the menu before deciding what to order? This stress could be a sign that they need help developing a healthier relationship with food.


Full Recovery Is Possible!

At The Eating Disorder Center, we love supporting college students through eating disorder therapy. It's important to note that full recovery is possible.

Eating disorders are highly treatable and we would be honored to help your college student on the path towards recovery.

We offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to see if eating disorder therapy and/or eating disorder recovery coaching is a good fit. Reach out via the link here.

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Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom.
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🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, NY, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy
🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide

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The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com