Eating disorders can be genetic or caused by psychological issues like coping skills, control issues, trauma, family trouble, or social issues. While different types of eating disorders have different possible causes, one thing is for sure—female college students are particularly at risk for engaging in this harmful behavior.
Recent studies have shown that approximately 31% of female college students suffer from some form of an eating disorder. In fact, one college campus survey reported that 91% of the women admitted to controlling their weight through dieting, with 22% identifying themselves as dieting “often” or “always.” An estimated 25% of college-age women resort to binging and purging to manage their weight.