Although eating problems often take the form of worries about food and weight, they actually represent a culmination of more complex issues. Underlying stress or emotional problems that are difficult to express may be the basis of an eating problem. Other factors that contribute to eating problems include the following:

• dieting
• depression
• genetic predisposition
• media and other cultural ideals of slimness
• fear of fatness or weight gain
• history of trauma
• striving for perfection
• pressure from certain sports and other activities where thinness may be idealized

More information about eating problems is provided on this website and by the National Eating Disorders Association.

If you are worried about someone’s eating, health, or any other issue, there’s probably a good reason for your concern. The most helpful approach is a caring interaction, with the aim of referring your friend to treatment. Eating problems usually do not go away on their own, and the earlier the treatment, the more likely that the risk of medical complications may be reduced. A caring interaction needs to be carefully planned, so please obtain more information by reviewing information on this website and by scheduling an appointment with CHEP to discuss your concerns.

Yes—men as well as women can benefit from nutrition counseling. Men consult with CHEP to learn about sports nutrition, vegetarianism, body image, high cholesterol, nutrition-related medical concerns, or how to achieve a better eating pattern for short-term and long-term health. With respect to eating problems, one in ten individuals seeking treatment is male, and this number is growing. CHEP is an excellent resource for men and seeks to provide a range of services to meet the needs of men with eating concerns in the Cornell community.

Weight gain during freshman year is not inevitable. Some people gain; some lose; some stay the same. Cornell researchers have investigated why some students gain weight and have identified extra eating at dining halls as a major factor. Cornell Dining works hard to accommodate the various tastes as well as nutrition needs of the diverse student population, and that translates to a wide variety of tempting foods.

The solution? Learn to navigate the dining halls, find what you need for a balanced meal, and avoid seconds of high calorie foods and desserts. Devise some strategies to keep you busy if extended social time occurs during meal time. 

Other contributors toward weight gain during the college years include the following:

• Late nights. Get sufficient rest!  Lack of sleep contributes to increased appetite and excessive snacking. 
• Alcohol intake. Alcohol and alcoholic beverages contain hidden calories (80-150 per drink) that tend to be stored as body fat.
• Take-out/ order-in food. Beware of a continual intake of high calorie foods such as wings, pizza.
• Snacking while studying. Avoid munching while you hit the books. Instead, take breaks for snacking and stretching. See Eating Tips for snack suggestions.
• Lack of exercise. Remember to get regular exercise by walking and other activities.
• Fluids—stay hydrated with plenty of water (a glass every hour or two is usually sufficient; more may be needed during exercise). You may include a few servings each of juice and milk per day, but avoid excessive quantities sweetened beverages.  

Check your weight occasionally and notice any trends. If you observe a consistent increase, consider an appointment with the Cornell Healthy Eating Program. It’s better to address any weight issue before it becomes a bigger problem.

More information about the Freshman 15 and about Weight Management are provided in the "Hot Topics" section of this site.

Yes—one in ten individuals seeking treatment for eating problems is male, and this number is growing. Men are susceptible to the same eating disorders as women, with varying degrees of severity. These include anorexia (insufficient food in take and strong desire for thinness), bulimia (with purging that can include self-induced vomiting, fasting, laxative abuse, or over-exercise), and binge-eating. 

Men can also be affected by body dysmorphia, or lack of satisfaction with body size and appearance. Body dysmorphia can take the form of striving to be larger and more muscular, also known as bigarexia or adonis complex. This often results in the use of unhealthy means to increase body mass, such as over-exercise, fad-dieting, and inappropriate supplementation, all of which have potentially dangerous physical consequences. 

The Cornell Healthy Eating Program is an excellent resource for men and provides a range of for men with eating concerns in the Cornell community.

Research has shown that students eating breakfast do better academically. The brain and body work best in a fed state, and the overnight fast—which a morning meal is designed to end—leaves the body somewhat depleted. That doesn’t mean that breakfast is any more or less important than other meals!

Skipping meals puts the body at risk of slower metabolism, a compensation to conserve energy that can lead to later weight gain. A skipped meal is also a lost opportunity to obtain nutrients needed throughout the day. In addition, skipping breakfast may displace the day’s food intake to late at night, when eating sometimes becomes excessive.

Breakfast and other meals best serve the body if they include a combination of foods that have both protein and carbohydrate.  Carbohydrate replenishes blood glucose levels as well as liver and muscle glycogen stores—these stores provide a reservoir for quick fuel. Protein provides a more gradual release of nutrients to sustain energy level.

If you don’t have time to eat breakfast, consider “anything” rather than nothing!  Many foods are portable—you can eat them on the way. Probably too much eating is done on “on the run” these days, but that’s better than skipping meals entirely. Foods to grab quickly might be a granola bar, fruit, toast, sandwich, or bagel.   Add some protein to these carbohydrate items by including yogurt, trail mix, or peanut butter.

Morning foods don’t have to look like traditional breakfast foods.  Some people enjoy a slice of pizza, a burrito, or a veggie burger in the morning. 

In general, a good balanced food pattern includes all the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain health. However, inadequate food intake or a specific nutrient deficiency (such as iron deficiency) may be reasons to consider a multivitamin or mineral supplement.

Supplements take many forms, including multivitamins, individual vitamins and minerals, meal replacement drinks and bars, herbal preparations, and aids advertised to increase muscle (“bulk up”), decrease body fat (“fat burners”), or increase energy (“ergogenic aids”).

The supplement industry is a multibillion dollar one. Unfortunately, supplements are not always effective and free from risk. Innumerable products are available, with more appearing on the market all the time.

A few important questions can be asked about any supplement in order to inform your decision about it.

• Is the information I’m getting from a reliable source? (Note that advertising and information from the web are not always reliable sources.) Do the claims sound too good to be true?
• What about short-term or long-term risks—are there any long-term studies?
• What is the cost?
• Do the benefits outweigh the costs and risks, or are there too many unknowns?
• Is the manufacturer reliable? Is the item certified by US Pharmaceuticals (USP)?
• Why do I think I need this supplement, and would it be better to consult with a medical professional?

More information about supplements, is available in our Hot Topics section, at the FDA, and at the New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) Nutrition.

If you haven’t menstruated in three or more months, you should see a medical professional. Aside from the more obvious possibility of pregnancy, stress, low weight, insufficient sleep, insufficient food intake, excessive exercise—or a combination of these—can result in low estrogen levels and subsequent loss of menstrual periods (amenorrhea).  Additionally, estrogen is necessary for the ongoing incorporation of calcium into bones, which can become weakened without it. Adequate calcium intake, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise are needed for bone health as well, but they not sufficient to prevent bone loss when estrogen levels are low.

The problem of bone loss is usually unnoticed until it is too late. Bone loss (or osteoporosis) can cause stress fractures, and in more severe cases, collapsed vertebrae and hip fractures, even in young women. If caught early enough, serious bone loss can be avoided or treated.

Please note that amenorrhea can also result from other hormonal imbalances, which is another reason to seek medical evaluation and care.