Transitioning to College with an Eating Disorder

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5 college students walking

Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how best to support students with eating disorders in their college transition. It’s important to note that eating disorders are considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), because eating disorders “substantially limit one or more major life activity” (How to Determine if a Person Has a Disability Under the ADA). Eating disorders can be exacerbated by the transition. Students and parents should start planning well in advance of beginning college. Here are three things that students with eating disorders should consider when transitioning to college:

1. Continuity of Care

Here are some guiding questions and suggestions:

  • Does the student have a healthcare provider they currently work with? Will the student be able to keep seeing that person (either in person, or video chat)? If not, can that person recommend a healthcare provider near the school?

  • If the students needs to find a healthcare provider on or near campus, it’s best to start early. It can take weeks, or months to get an appointment and even then, it’s not sure to be a good fit. Students may want to try and connect with healthcare providers while they are in the college search phase.

  • Students should connect with Student Mental Health Services (AKA: Counseling Center, Student Mental Health Center). It’s good to know where the center is located and how to get an appointment before classes start. Additionally, Student Mental Health Services may be able to recommend other community supports such as: therapists, groups, and treatment facilities.

  • Students should reach out to Dining Services to ask if there is a Nutritionist on staff. Most schools have a nutritionist or a least person who can walk students through food choices at the dining hall and answer questions the student may have about the food or food prep.

2. Housing/Meal Plan Accommodations

Many students with eating disorders prefer to make their own food. With that in mind, here are some questions that students should ask:

  • What are their housing options? Students should ask if there is a shared kitchen space, or an option for housing with a kitchen.

  • Can they modify their meal plan based on their medical condition. Students should contact Disability Support Services to inquire.

  • What the process is for requesting housing based on medical need? Most universities have a separate housing process for students with a medical need. See my previous post: Campus Housing for Students with Physical Disabilities and Health Conditions.

3. Academic Accommodations

Students with eating disorders may also require academic accommodations.

  • Some examples of accommodations include: breaks during class or exams (in order to address anxiety) and snacks during class and exams (students may have a specific eating schedule that they need to adhere to).

  • If a student is in eating disorder treatment and attending college at the same time, they might request other accommodations, such as: reduction in course load (allowing for appointments), flexibility in attendance (allowing for unpredictable absence), and extensions on assignments (if the student requires more time to complete assignments).

With the right supports, students with eating disorders can be successful in college. It’s important to start the process of working with the student to identify needs before they get to campus, ideally during the college search process. If you have questions about transitioning to college with an eating disorder, please contact me: annie@accessiblecollege.com