Eighty-six percent of people who develop an eating disorder said the illness was apparent by the age of 20, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders.
However, these types of illnesses do not always start out as eating disorders.
Dianna Schalles, Lafene Health Center nutritionist, said dieting is a gateway that can lead to an eating disorder.
“Sometimes it will start out innocently, trying to be health conscious,” she said.
Schalles said people start by eliminating certain fats from their diets. When they see success, they cut other elements of their diet too. This combined with positive body-image feedback from others can cause a domino effect.
“It’s very complex; often times a person may not know they would be at risk for that,” she said.
With an enormous market for weight loss programs and diet supplements and a constant flow of unrealistic images in the media, quick-fix or extreme dieting can be utilized to try and obtain the perfect body image.
However, professionals stress simple and healthy lifestyle choices can be implemented into everyday routines to achieve physical fitness.
“Long term success isn’t about finding the right diet,” Schalles said. “It’s really about identifying behaviors that contribute to a person consuming more calories or an adequate physical activity.”
Diana Hylton, senior in nutritional sciences and vice president for Sensible Nutrition and Body Image Choices, said people should incorporate physical activity into their lifestyles. She also said when it comes to food consumption, it is more important to focus on health rather than calorie counting.
“Everybody’s going to have a different requirement,” Hylton said.
Katharine Grunewald, professor of human nutrition, said if people decide to cut calories, the process should be progressive and not extreme. She also stressed the importance of a balanced diet.
“Don’t cut out any major food groups,” Grunewald said.
Web sites like the American Dietetic Association’s Eatright.org have calorie calculators that take into account height, weight and physical activity and can give a more personalized calorie intake suggestion.
Another lifestyle change that can be implemented into a diet is simple food substitutions. Schalles suggested several substitutions for everyday foods. She recommends 1 percent or skim milk in place of whole milk, plain low-fat yogurt in place of sour cream and experimenting with fat free salad dressings.
Schalles and Grunewald both warned against diets that are restrictive, which can cause deficiencies. Grunewald said diets that only include one certain item are dangerous, just as it is dangerous to starve oneself. Schalles also suggested avoiding diet supplements, unless recommended by a licensed health professional.
“It’s a huge industry, and oftentimes a person’s health is not number one,” Schalles said.
There are also stresses of transitioning into and living the college life. Hylton said both healthy diet and exercise can play a role in reducing stress.
Schalles said she understands people grow tired of hearing about dieting, exercise and calories, especially those who struggle with their weight due to genetics.
“I always like to instill hope,” she said. “Improved lifestyle habits increase health and lower health risks.”
Schalles said these decisions will ultimately lead to a better quality of life.
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