Adolescence and young adulthood is a significant time period for the emergence of eating disorders of various types. Eating disorders can affect anyone from any background. While the media portrays women as suffering from eating disorders, they are common in men as well. Wheaton College Student Health Services (SHS) would like to provide the support needed to effectively care for those who have either struggled prior to enrollment or who have newly displayed signs of the disorder. Services offered for this group of patients include:
- Initial evaluations and regular follow-up appointments with a physician or nurse practitioner
- Any necessary lab work
- A nurse case manager who will meet regularly with patients for encouragement, accountability, and/or weight checks as determined by the plan of care
- Referral to the Wheaton College Counseling Center if desired for one-on-one and/or group care
- Off-campus referrals for inpatient and outpatient treatment, day programs, and residential treatment or to a registered dietician
Some signs you or someone you love may have:
Anorexia
- Unusual eating habits or refusal to eat
- Excessive weight loss (weight less than 85% of expected)
- A genuine fear of gaining weight
- Extreme physical activity
- Hair, nail, or skin problems
- Depression and body image disturbance
- Denial of the problem
Bulimia
- Purchasing large quantities of food
- Feeling that you can’t control your eating or eating to the point of discomfort
- Forcing yourself to vomit or exercise too much
- Abuse of laxatives or diuretics
- Secretive behavior regarding eating habits
- Weight fluctuations
- Depression and body image disturbance
- Denial of the problem
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Recurring episodes (on average, at least once weekly for 3 months) of consuming a large amount of food in a short period of time, compared to what others might eat,
- Eating compulsively without purging
- Becoming overweight
- Overeating throughout the day or consuming large amounts of food during binges
B.E.D. can occur in normal-weight, overweight, and obese adults.
Although B.E.D. can be associated with increased weight, the majority of adults with B.E.D. are not obese: 55% are normal-weight or overweight, 45% are obese.
Anorexia Athletica: Going To The Gym To “Burn Off” Meals
Anorexia athletica is a condition when an individual is obsessed with burning off the calories they eat. They may be fanatical about their health in other ways, such as following food trends like organic foods and eating gluten free. One sign of an anorexia athletica individual is complaining about how long they will have to exercise to burn off the calories from a meal.
At Student Health Services, we have a desire to come alongside this patient group to love and care for them as we extend Christ’s grace and work toward healing. If you would like to discuss an individual case, please contact the Director, Student Health Services at 630.752.5072 or email Student.Health.Services@wheaton.edu