Columbia University Health Services

Eating disorders are not about food, but food is what people with eating disorders abuse.

The term “eating disorders” refers to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. These syndromes are characterized by extreme disruptions in eating and intense anxiety over body weight and appearance. Sometimes these disorders can overlap.  

Eating disorders are psychological disorders which have physical manifestations. In fact, severe medical complications which can sometimes even be life-threatening occur. 

Eating Disorders and Sexual Abuse

Eating disorders are common for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and for survivors of sexual assaults as adults.

• Some studies indicate that almost 30% of women suffering from bulimia were raped at some point in their lives.
• Girls who are sexually abused appear to be at a double risk for eating disorders.

Food can often become an area where a survivor can exert control by:

• Deciding when and if they can eat
• How much and what they eat
• Denying themselves when they are hungry
• ‘Punishing’ themselves for feelings or memories they have about the abuse, by not eating or by eating and then purging
• Working through the hunger
• Surviving on very little amounts of food

Accomplishing these things can feel like victories in gaining control over their lives and bodies after sexual assault or abuse took that control and choice away. As with self-injury , it is the survivor who controls the behavior, and not the assailant. Some survivors may deny themselves food in order to become thin and lose any resemblance of a female figure. Other survivors may want to gain weight to cover or hide areas of their body, or to attempt to make themselves unattractive.

Finding ways to cope with childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault, without harming oneself, is something we can assist survivors with.

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Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) supports the psychological and emotional well-being of the campus community by providing counseling, consultation, and crisis intervention. For more information go to Making Appointments. 

Bulimia Support Group
A support group for individuals struggling with issues associated with current or past bulimia. For more information go to Workshops, Groups, and Training. 

Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS) provides comprehensive care for routine, urgent, and chronic medical needs for students. Primary Care also provides sexual health, reproductive, and gynecological services, LGBTQ health care, immunizations, and referrals. For more information go to Making Appointments. 

Eating Disorders Team
Students struggling with an eating disorder should contact Health Services at Columbia as a resource. Following national standards for excellent eating disorder care, Health Services at Columbia has for over a decade maintained a multidisciplinary team of experts, comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, and a registered dietician. The team works together to establish a treatment plan for each student. For more information go to Making Appointments. 

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Program (SVPRP) provides comprehensive and integrated education, support and advocacy about sexual and relationship violence. The program supports survivors and fosters individual and collective action to end sexual and relationship violence. For more information go to the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Program. 

The Barnard Columbia Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center provides peer counseling and advocacy services for survivors and co-survivors of sexual and relationship violence. For more information go to the Barnard-Columbia Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center. 

Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Misconduct 212 854 1717

 

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Medical Center Campus Public Safety x99 or 305-8100 

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