Why Eating Disorders Often Show Up in College (and Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Starting college opens up a whole new world. New classes, new people, new independence—and maybe, for the first time, the chance to redefine who you are. No matter what high school was like, college often feels like a fresh start. The freedom, friendships, and opportunities to grow can be genuinely exciting.

You’ve probably also heard people say college is “the best years of your life.”

But for many students, college is also really hard.

If you’re feeling more stressed, isolated, or homesick than you expected—or if your relationship with food or your body has become more complicated—you might feel confused or even embarrassed. This isn’t your fault.

As an eating disorder therapist, I see this all the time. The difficulty of transitioning into an entirely new life is often left out of the conversation. Whether disordered eating is showing up for the first time or resurfacing after a period of calm, there are very real reasons eating disorders and disordered eating often surface during college.

Why Disordered Eating Often Starts (or Returns) in College

1. So Much Change, All at Once

If you really think about it, the amount of change college students are expected to adjust to is intense. New environment, new routines, new social dynamics. Often without your usual support system nearby.

When everything feels unfamiliar, focusing on food, calories, exercise, or your body can create a sense of structure and predictability. It may feel grounding at first, even if it eventually becomes stressful or consuming.

2. Pressure to Make New Friends

Even the most outgoing people feel nervous when starting over socially. You’re putting yourself out there in new ways, and the fear of rejection is real.

In that vulnerable space, it’s easy to believe you need to look a certain way to be accepted or to “fit in.” For many college students, this pressure quietly fuels disordered eating behaviors.

3. Constant Comparison

While you’re wondering whether you’re doing college “right,” it can seem like everyone else has it figured out. They’ve found their people, they’re going out, they’re thriving.

Of course, social media and brief interactions rarely tell the full story—but comparison can still hit hard. Disordered eating can start as a way to feel better, feel in control, or distract from feeling like you aren’t measuring up.

4. Increased Academic Pressure

Getting into college can feel like crossing a finish line—until you realize a whole new race has begun. Each semester brings new academic expectations, along with social obligations, extracurriculars, and sometimes even a job.

In the middle of all that pressure, it makes sense that your brain might crave comfort, control, or certainty. Food and exercise rules can start to feel like something you can “get right” when everything else feels demanding.

5. Disordered Eating Is Normalized on Campus

One of the reasons disordered eating in college is so hard to recognize is because it’s often normalized.

• “You can’t go out tonight until you go to the gym.”

• “Spring break is coming, time to diet.”

• “I gained weight freshman year, I need to get back on track.”

Body changes are treated like a personal failure rather than a completely normal response to stress, growth, and major life transitions. In this environment, disordered eating can hide in plain sight.

If This Sounds Like You, You’re Not Broken

If you’re in college and your relationship with food or your body has become more stressful, that makes sense. You’re not weak, dramatic, or doing college “wrong.”

The good news? It can get better—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Here are a few gentle places to start:

• Notice your thoughts about food and your body. Are there rules, expectations, or “shoulds” running in the background?

• Get curious about where these beliefs came from. Social media? Diet culture? Someone in your life who also struggles with food?

• Pay attention to the impact. Does going out with friends or eating in the dining hall feel overwhelming now? Does studying feel harder because you’re also trying to manage exercise or food rules?

The reality is that when our relationship with food feels off, our relationship with so many parts of our life can also feel off.

Finally, consider how these expectations line up with what truly matters to you. If there’s fear about how others might judge your body, it’s worth asking: Are these the values I want to live by? Are these the kinds of relationships I want to build?

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

If thinking about your relationship with food feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. One of the most important steps is simply talking about it. That might mean opening up to a friend, a parent, or a mentor.

And if you’re feeling stuck, working with an eating disorder therapist can help. Therapy isn’t about taking something away—it’s about helping your relationship with food and your body feel easier, so you can actually be present for your life.

There is a life beyond disordered eating. One where you can enjoy college, connect with people, and focus on what matters to you—without food and body worries running the show.

You deserve a college experience that isn’t dominated by food rules, body checking, or guilt. If you’re interested in working with an eating disorder therapist who takes a compassionate, weight-inclusive approach, I’m here to support.