Many teenagers find losing weight a way to control their lives. They feel that if they can possibly control the way they look, they can change other events in their lives. They see losing weight as solving a math problem. Once they figure out the formula to losing the weight they can continually use this to make their lives easier. Many times the obsession with weight loss becomes merely a disguise for a problem that lies much deeper within the person.
Eating disorders are on the rise among college students now more than ever. Some people feel many different emotions when they go away to college. Some may feel excited about experiencing new things; others may not be ready for such an environment. Having to meet new people and develop new friendships can be hard for some people and they may feel they don’t fit in (Thompson 1). These feelings are becoming more prevalent in our society, with its obsession to look a certain way, such as being thin and obtaining the perfect body. Research studies found that 52% of adolescents begin dieting before age 14. Among college females, 78% reported binging experiences and 8.2% used self-induced vomiting to control weight (Myths and Campus Resources 1).