In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Eating disorders among university students

(McGill Daily) The director of a Montreal eating disorder program has pointed to studies that link eating disorders with residence living. The claims come after a McGill University student was referred to the McGill Mental Health Service Clinic for a pre-diagnosed case of anorexia that resurfaced when the student enrolled at the university. McGill residence fellow Anna Lambert, a registered nurse, said there is at least one student with an eating disorder in every McGill residence.

1.

Oxford University tackles eating disorders

Oxford University Student Union

The Oxford University Student Union maintains a website about eating disorders.  It links to a site that explains the differences between anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating and non-specified eating disorders.  The site explains that the student union has both formal and informal support services. It provides links to nightline, a student-run listening service, and the school’s counseling service.  The site offers information about local support groups and includes a list of eight books on eating disorders. 

2.

Columbia University policy allows mandatory medical leave

Columbia University policy page

Columbia University has published its policy regarding students with eating disorders on its website. It includes a paper entitled ‘Required medical leave for students with eating disorders.’ As the title suggests, Columbia reserves the right to require students to take a medical leave “when an individual student’s eating disorder has negatively impacted the integrity of the University’s learning environment.” The paper describes the protocol of involuntary medical leave, the implications of that approach, and the responsibilities of the student, the dean, the health services department and the counseling and psychological services director if the school enforces the policy.

3.

BBC Radio airs a show on women's health

BBC Radio 4

The BBC Radio 4 has a show called Woman’s Hour. Their website includes a health archive and an audio clip of a segment on eating disorders among university students. The show’s host speaks to the head of counseling and advice services at the University of Westminster, a woman from the Eating Disorders Association and a student who suffered from an eating disorder during university. They discuss the prevalence of various eating disorders among students and the efforts of the Eating Disorders Association to improve the support groups available to students. 

4.

CBC article discusses study of University of Alberta students

CBC
This CBC article discusses the findings of a study on eating disorders among female students at the University of Alberta. Lead researcher Erin Barker found that students living in residence are more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who live with their parents throughout their studies. The article also discusses other elements of university life that contribute to the disorders such as body image, social pressures, and disruption of routine. 

5.

Men are not immune to eating disorders, especially at elite schools

The Daily Princetonian

The Daily Princetonian published an article about male students suffering from eating disorders. It focuses on one student’s experience but also incorporates the findings of professionals such as Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Roberto Olivardia, who wrote a book on the subject. The article notes that men studying at elite schools such as Princeton are among those most likely to have an eating disorder. The disorders can be caused by social pressures and usually affect men of high socioeconomic groups.