Some people may not consider eating disorders to be a serious problem, but this is anything but the case. Eating disorders among teens are often held in check by parents and support systems. For this reason, the college years are a time when many people discover just how serious their eating disorder is. Eating disorders are not only a sign of emotional problems that need to be addressed, they also pose a serious health risk.

Perhaps the most important thing to realize is that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. On top of that, teens who suffer from anorexia are suffering from the third-most common long term illness. For women between the ages of 15 and 24, the mortality rate of anorexia is a striking 12 times higher than all other causes of death combined. Finally, about a quarter of college-aged women binge and purge to maintain their weight.

Eating disorders are typically divided into one of three categories: anorexia, bulimia, and binging. Anorexia is when an individual simply stops eating to lose weight. Bulimia is when you induce vomiting to compensate for food you have eaten. Binging is when you eat excessive amounts of food, which is attributable to a type of addiction.

It's worth realizing that eating disorders are fluid and can transform from one into another. Generally, these disorders are closely related to other psychological issues. Often, these disorders are triggered by stress. The transition from high school to college can be very stressful for some students, which is why eating disorders can become a serious problem for college students.

Many people who suffer from an eating disorder have difficulty admitting it to themselves. Those who are aware a problem exists will generally find themselves hiding it from those around them.

The first step toward improvement is to get help. You can seek counseling without needing to be ashamed. There is strong evidence to suggest that these disorders are not entirely psychological and have a medical component as well. If you wouldn't ignore a broken arm, there is no reason to ignore an eating disorder, especially since it’s actually more dangerous to your health.

If you'd like to learn more about psychological disorders, mental health and addiction, contact us at Solace Counseling. We have a Twitter account and a Facebook page, as well as a website.