Clinical and Subclinical Eating Disorders in Counseling Center Clients

Abstract

Eating disorders on college campuses comprise a serious, yet understudied mental health issue. Specifically, prevalence studies of eating disorders among college counseling center populations are lacking in the current literature. Attempting to quantify the seriousness of this issue becomes an important first step in adapting counseling and outreach services for the larger campus community. Accordingly, this study utilized the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess clients accessing counseling services at the university counseling center of a large state university. The study revealed a significant increase in the number of clients diagnosed with an eating disorder during the course of the survey. These results are discussed in terms of the need for a specific eating disorders protocol to increase client disclosure and counselor awareness.

Key Words:

• Prevalence
• college counseling centers
• eating disorders