By Brinda Patel
Correspondent
Running from Feb. 23 through March 1, Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026 was observed across the nation in an effort to tackle stigmas and stereotypes of weight and eating disorders. Eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental health disorders in the United States, according to Mayo Clinic Press.
A 2019 study found that gender minority students exhibit signs of eating disorders with significantly higher prevalence than their peers, and another study from 2015 found that transgender college students are four times more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Casey Accardi, the team lead and primary therapist at The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders, told The Signal in an email that by recognizing Eating Disorders Awareness Week, a space is created for anyone living with an eating disorder to feel seen and understood.
“Many students may be struggling quietly or unsure whether their experience ‘counts,’” Accardi said. “Early support can prevent patterns from becoming more entrenched and help students develop resilience and self-compassion that lasts well beyond graduation.”
Biologically, late adolescence and early adulthood are peak years for the onset of eating disorders, according to Accardi. This time period is when students separate from family, explore identity and ask themselves big life questions regarding their identity and where they feel belonging.
These questions can be filled with intense emotions and can be detrimental to mental and physical health in the long term, according to Accardi. Additional stressors such as stigma, bias or exclusion can increase the risk and create the “perfect storm” of unhealthy eating patterns if the proper support is not provided.
“Colleges can start by creating a culture that challenges myths and stereotypes,” said Accardi. “Eating disorders affect people of all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexualities, genders, body sizes and backgrounds.”
Erin Birely, who works as a professional counselor at The Renfrew Center, also says that college students are particularly vulnerable to these patterns.
For college students, “the stress of figuring out who they are without the consistent impact of old mentors, guides, and support can leave some students feeling lost and looking for an identity,” said Birely.
Social media and the fear of weight gain can add an extra stressor to students as they seek social connections with their new peers, according to Birely.
Education is for student’s support, according to Birely, who says colleges should bring on staff in counseling health centers and parents with clinicians or treatment centers to help students reduce more specialized support.
“Colleges should create a culture around food that is positive, does not stigmatize food and lets go of diet culture judgements that certain foods are bad and off limits. By doing so, students will learn to honor their body and nourish it with what they need and want,” said Birely.
The Renfrew Center is one of many educational resources that students can reach out to for guidance regarding eating disorders recovery.
Resources at the College including Counseling and Prevention Services and the UWill 24/7 teletherapy line are here to help anyone looking for support for eating disorders.
