Most college students expect to experience some stress. But what many students don't expect is how much that stress can influence their relationship with food.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is not always visible, and symptoms can remain hidden. Students may continue attending classes, participating in social activities and keeping up academically while struggling privately with feelings of loss of control around food.
At Eating Recovery Center (ERC), we often see students seek support during major life transitions, including starting college, moving into a dorm, transferring schools or returning to campus after a break. These transitions can bring both opportunity and significant stress, particularly for students already vulnerable to eating disorders or mental health challenges.
Why binge eating disorder can be difficult to recognize in college
College life can make irregular eating patterns feel routine. Students may be navigating:
Changing class and work schedules
Late-night studying and disrupted sleep
Dining hall meal plans
Social events centered on food
Financial pressure
More independence around meals
As a result, a student may write off a concerning pattern as “stress eating” or simply blame it on a difficult semester. But when eating repeatedly feels out of control or causes significant distress, it deserves attention.
Stress is common on college campuses
In the American College Health Association’s fall 2024 survey, 77.1% of students surveyed reported moderate or high stress during the previous 30 days. About 30% reported that anxiety had negatively affected their performance in a class or delayed progress toward their degree during the previous year. The survey included 33,763 students from 48 participating institutions.[1]
Stress has also been associated with emotional eating among college students. Emotional eating and BED are not the same, however. BED involves recurrent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period while feeling unable to control the eating. These episodes are also associated with significant distress.[2]
Eating disorders affect students across backgrounds
A study of 29,951 students at 26 U.S. colleges and universities found that 13% screened positive for a current eating disorder. This identifies students who have symptoms without a diagnosis.
In that study, bulimia nervosa and BED were the most commonly identified eating disorders. Combined screening estimates for the two conditions ranged from 13% to 18% among women and from 10% to 12% among men, depending on race and ethnicity.[3]
These findings reinforce an important point: Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, body weights and sexes. A person can appear healthy and still be seriously ill.[5]
Signs of binge eating disorder may be hidden
Binge eating episodes often happen in private, making the condition easier for others to miss. Signs may include:
Eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period
Feeling unable to stop eating or control how much is eaten
Eating much faster than usual
Eating when not physically hungry
Eating until uncomfortably full
Eating alone or in secret because of embarrassment
Feeling distressed, ashamed or guilty about eating
Not everyone will experience every sign. A qualified health care professional can determine whether someone meets the criteria for BED.[5]
Binge eating and mental health can overlap
Eating disorders can occur alongside depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. In the 2024–2025 Healthy Minds Study, 37% of participating students reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 32% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms.[4]
These figures describe the broader student population; they do not show that every student with anxiety or depression has an eating disorder. They do help illustrate why care may need to address both eating disorder symptoms and co-occurring mental health concerns.
Many students who screen positive do not receive treatment
A 2019 review of college eating disorder screening research found that approximately 20% or fewer of students who screened positive reported receiving eating disorder treatment. The authors also cautioned that studies used different screening tools, recruitment methods and definitions, making exact prevalence estimates difficult to compare.[5]
Students may put off asking for help because they do not recognize the symptoms, feel embarrassed, believe they are not “sick enough” or worry that treatment will disrupt school. But support is not reserved for a crisis.
When to reach out for support
Consider talking with a professional if:
Eating frequently feels difficult to control
It feels difficult to understand hunger cues or feel full
Binge eating episodes are recurring or becoming more frequent
Eating causes shame, guilt or significant distress
Thoughts about food, weight or body image interfere with daily life
Eating patterns affect school, relationships or emotional well-being
Restriction and binge eating continue despite efforts to stop
Early identification and treatment are important for recovery.
How Eating Recovery Center supports college students
Eating Recovery Center offers multiple levels of eating disorder care, including virtual intensive outpatient and a specialized program, Rhythms at ERC, that is exclusively for those experiencing binge eating symptoms or overeating.
Explore Rhythms
For eligible students who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy, virtual treatment may make it possible to receive care while remaining engaged in school when clinically appropriate. Availability and program details vary by state.
Explore ERC virtual care
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
If you are concerned about yourself, your child or a student in your care, you do not have to figure out next steps alone. Call us to learn more about your options, including those that ensure school stays on track.
When you call ERC, you can ask about:
Eating disorder symptoms and concerns
Treatment options for college students
Virtual and in-person care
Partial hospitalization and residential treatment programs
Family involvement and support
Insurance and coverage questions
How to determine the appropriate level of care
Struggling with an eating disorder?
Find a path to healing as unique as you are.
Call 866-382-0074
No referral necessary
A specialized program for binge eating disorder
Binge eating can be hard to talk about. It can also be hard to find a program that fits your exact needs. Rhythms at ERC is designed specifically for adults experiencing binge eating or loss-of-control eating, with care that addresses the unique challenges that can come with it.
Rhythms at ERC includes:
A dedicated treatment cohort for those experiencing binge eating
A size-inclusive approach grounded in respect, not weight stigma
Real-life eating support to help you practice skills beyond treatment
Optional support for loved ones so they can better understand what you’re experiencing and how to help
Full-time and part-time treatment options
Learn more about Rhythms at ERC.
Recovery is possible
Binge eating disorder is a serious but treatable mental illness. College does not cause BED, but stress and changing routines may make an existing struggle harder to recognize or manage.
With appropriate treatment and support, people can recover. If binge eating symptoms are causing concern, contact ERC to learn about available treatment options and the next step that may be right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is BED common among college students?
Research suggests that BED is among the more commonly identified eating disorders in college screening studies. However, estimates vary by study, and screening results are not the same as confirmed diagnoses. One large study found that 13% of students screened positive for a current eating disorder overall; bulimia nervosa and BED were the most commonly identified conditions.[3]
Why does BED often go unnoticed in college?
BED often goes unnoticed in college because it's an eating disorder that isn't commonly recognized. It often happens in private, and the signs aren't always visible to others, making symptoms easier to dismiss. A common misconception is that eating disorders are related to body size. But that's not true. Eating disorders look very different for everyone and affect people of all body sizes.
Another reason BED goes unnoticed is academic stress. Many might dismiss symptoms because they are having a hard time transitioning to academic pressures or wave it off as a way of dealing with a stressful semester. If you're experiencing compulsive eating or binge eating patterns, that's worth paying attention to.
What is the difference between stress eating and BED?
Eating more than usual during a stressful period does not necessarily mean someone has BED. BED involves recurrent binge eating episodes marked by a sense of loss of control and significant distress. A healthcare professional can provide an assessment. Learn more in What “Counts” as a Binge?
Can a student stay enrolled while receiving treatment for BED?
Some students can remain enrolled while participating in outpatient or virtual treatment. Others may need to reduce their course load or take time away to receive a higher level of care. The right approach depends on the student’s clinical and medical needs.
What treatment options are available for BED?
Depending on a student’s needs, care may include virtual intensive outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential or inpatient treatment. Program availability varies by location, and an assessment can help determine the appropriate level of care.
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