Frequently Asked Questions About Body Image

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are characterized by symptoms such as persistent pattern of dysfunctional eating or dieting behavior. These patterns of eating behavior are associated with significant emotional, physical, and interpersonal distress. Along with the symptoms of the eating disorder, a person may have a distorted body image of him or herself. Eating disorders become a way to cope for many people, especially those who find it difficult to express their feelings and emotions.

What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.

What is bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating. Compensatory behaviors can also include use of diuretics or laxatives.

What is binge eating?

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures to counter the binge eating.

What is body image?

Body image does not necessarily refer to what a person actually looks like. Rather, it refers to the way that a person feels about her/his body and their physical appearance. Often times, individuals with an eating disorder have a distorted body image, and can not see themselves as other people see them. A distorted body image is a sign of an eating disorder.

What are some health consequences of eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person’s emotional and physical health.

Health consequences of anorexia:
Because anorexia deprives the body of essential calories, vitamins and nutrients that the body needs in order to function properly, the body’s normal functions slow down. This can results in:

• Slowed heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Possible heart failure
• Loss of bone density
• Muscle weakness and muscle loss
• Dehydration
• Overall feeling of weakness, tiredness and light-headedness/fainting
• Hair loss
• Dry skin
• Growth of a thin film of hair all over the body called lanugo

Health consequences of bulimia
Because bulimia is a cycle of binging and purging, the body becomes imbalanced which affects the digestive tract, electrolytes and chemicals that can affect the function of major organs. This can results in:

• Irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure
• Rupture of the stomach due to binging
• Inflammation of the throat and esophagus from purging
• Tooth decay from the stomach acids from purging
• Irregular bowl movements and constipation
• Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.

Health consequences of binge eating & compulsive overeating
Binge eating and compulsive overeating can often have the same health effects as obesity. This can results in:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Type II diabetes
• Gallbladder disease

Why are eating disorders so prevalent at colleges & universities?

Being in college can be both an exciting and a stressful event for many men and women. For those who are starting off at college It is a time of changes – adjusting to new independence, building new relationships, facing academic rigor, adjusting to new living situations - to name a few. For those who are in the midst of academic work, it can be a time of extreme pressure with challenging work, financial considerations, deadlines, etc. Regardless of where one is in the college experience, for approximately 20% of college-aged women , the stress manifests itself into an issue of control – one in which the student feels that so many changes has made life feel out of control. The result is that these students make the mistake of thinking that by controlling what they eat, how much they exercise, and looking “thin”, they can cope with and be successful in the new environment. This can then manifest itself into an illness known as an eating disorder.

What types of treatment are available for people with eating disorders?

There are many different types of treatments available, all of which aim to foster a caring, safe and confidential environment necessary for recovery. Many of these treatments are readily available for NYU students through the Student Health Center. A brief outline of the types of treatment options is provided below. It is a very personal choice as to which options are best for the individual, so a decision should be made on this basis.

Nutritional Counseling: A critical part of dealing with an eating disorder revolves around education of proper nutrition and healthy eating choices. Nutritional counseling can help in this regard to provide the necessary information. This counseling is readily available to NYU Students. One-on-one sessions can be scheduled, and in most cases fees are covered through student health plan. For appointments, call 212-443-1122.

Psychological Counseling: This type of counseling focuses on addressing the symptoms of the eating disorder as well as the psychological, interpersonal and cultural forces that may contribute to an eating disorder. The Student Health Center offers counseling services either with a psychologist or social worker. For appointments, call 212-998-4780.

Outpatient Care: Outpatient care includes individual, family or group therapy sessions in which both psychological and nutritional counseling play an integral part. The primary difference is that outpatient care often offers a more supervised controlled environment. Most outpatient services are provided through organizations that specialize in this type of treatment. For information on outpatient programs, please contact The Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999.

Inpatient Care: May include hospitalization or in-resident care when an eating disorder becomes life threatening. Most inpatient care is provided through organizations or hospitals that specialize in this type of treatment. For information on inpatient care, please contact the Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999.

How do I know if I have an eating disorder?

If you think you or a friend might be dealing with an eating disorder, take a few minutes to answer the following questions.

• 1. Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
• 2. Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
• 3. Have you recently lost more than 14 lbs in a 3-month period?
• 4. Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?
• 5. Would you say that food dominates your life?

Answering yes to 2 or more of these questions indicates that you may have eating disorder issues. We encourage you to reach out to any of the available resources for assistance. There is help available!

How can I help a friend with an eating disorder?

Eating disorders not only affect the individual suffering from the illness, but also those around them. It can often be difficult for friends or family members to watch some one they care about struggle with the symptoms associated with the disorder.

Often times, being in a college setting allows friends to be intimately aware of the behavior patterns of friends. So the question is, how can you help a friend that may be struggling with an eating disorder?

• 1. Learn as much as possible about eating disorders. The Student Health Center offers many resources to students.
• 2. Know the differences between normal and obsessive nutrition and exercise. This is important because when approaching a friend who may not be able to recognize his/her behavior, having a sense of what is normal will be helpful.
• 3. Be honest and just talk with your friend. Avoiding the issue will not help.
• 4. Be caring, but be firm. Let your friend know that you care about them and that you are only worried about their health and happiness. Individuals with eating disorders will likely not agree with your assessment of the situation, so be prepared that your friend may go through a period of denial.
• 5. Tell someone. If you are very concerned about a friend, tell a friend, counselor, or resident assistant, anyone who may help you to manage the situation. An eating disorder can be a health threatening illness, so it is better to err on the side of caution.

Reaching out to a friend can be a difficult conversation to have! But do not worry – if you need help with how to talk to someone, just contact the Wellness Exchange, and we will assist you with helping a friend. Just call 212-443-9999.

What if I need treatment - how would I pay?

Although health insurance plans may pay most or all of the costs of treatment, each plan is different. If you are enrolled in an NYU- sponsored student health insurance plan, you should refer to the Student Health Insurance Handbook for details of your coverage. The Handbook can be downloaded at www.nyu.edu/shc/about/insurance.html. If you are covered under another insurance plan, you should call the telephone number on the back of your insurance ID card to find out the details of your coverage. Speak with a Wellness Exchange staff member to discuss confidentiality, billing options or resources outside of NYU.

I'd like to speak to a counselor. Will our conversation be confidential?

You can call the 999 hotline anonymously. We will not ask for your name unless, through the course of the conversation, we determine that it is necessary. If you do decide to tell a counselor your name, we will keep your personal information confidential. Counselors and medical staff will not share this information with any other offices within the University or release it to individuals outside the University without your written permission. The exceptions are in response to a court order, as required by law (including certain situations relating to public health and child abuse), or in cases of an immediate threat to your safety or to the safety of someone else.