Eating concerns education and counseling is available to UNH students who have paid their health fee at Health Services and the Counseling Center.
What is an eating concern?
- Distorted or dysfunctional eating that does not fit the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.
- Examples include irregular or chaotic eating, fasting, bingeing, dieting, emotional eating, feeling remorse or guilt after eating, preoccupation with food and weight, over exercising.
- Eating is often dictated by externally-connected cues such as counting calories instead of normal controls of hunger and satiety.
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder meets mental health diagnostic criteria and includes the following:
- Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. - Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating. - Binge eating disorder (Eating disorder not otherwise specified)
Binge eating disorder is a type of eating disorder not otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures to counter the binge eating.
Make an Appointment with a Health Care Practitioner for Further Assessment:
Many people believe that they can manage their eating concern without help but the most successful treatment involves support from a team of professionals including a nurse practitioner/physician, a therapist, and a nutritionist. Eating concerns are complex disorders affecting physical, social, emotional and mental health. The sooner an eating concern/eating disorder is addressed, the faster the recovery time.
The following resources are available at UNH to all students:
- Counselor at the Counseling Center
(603) 862-2090 - Nutrition Counselor at Health Services
(603) 862-3823 - Nurse practitioner or physician at Health Services
(603) 862-1806
What should I expect during an appointment with the nutrition counselor for an eating concern/eating disorder?
- The nutrition counselor interviews students and acknowledges their food issues and concerns in a safe and confidential atmosphere.
- The nutrition counselor reviews the impact the eating concern/eating disorder may have on physical, emotional and cognitive health.
- The nutrition counselor works closely with medical and psychological services to provide comprehensive care, as needed.
- Nutrition counseling focuses on the development of a healthy relationship with food and normalized eating.
- The nutrition counselor collaborates with each student to personalize nutritional goals. Goals are designed according to the student’s readiness to change and his/her stage of recovery.
- Resources such as books and Web sites are provided.
How should I approach my roommate or friend who I think has an eating concern?
Counseling and support is provided for students concerned about friends, roommates, and family members who are struggling with an eating concern. To arrange an appointment to speak with someone, call (603) 862-3823.
The Counseling Center also provides support. Please call (603) 862-2090 to learn more.
Learn more about reaching out to a friend...
Additional Resources:
- Resource Library
The Resource Library at Health Services is available to all UNH students, faculty and staff. The library is packed with books, videos, DVDs, audios, brochures and other great materials for your research or personal use. The library is located on the second floor in Health Services. All materials are to be checked out in the Office of Health Education and Promotion, Room 249. - Online Resources
Health Services has compiled a list of reliable online resources fore eating concerns.
