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Chapter 5 - Healthy Bodies, Body Image Concerns, Eating Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2024

Jane Morris
Jane Morris
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen
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Summary

This wide ranging chapter examines the relationship of mental health with physical aspects of behaviour such as exercise, eating and sleeping and the consequences of dysregulation for both academic success and mental health. The loss of home and school structures at a time of continued physical and brain development puts the student age group at high risk of dysregulation-related disorders, including the so-called ‘eating disorders’. The author discusses benefits of restoring institutional structures such as canteens and adolescent-friendly timetabling. Physical activity, including outdoor activity is important for physical and mental health of all students and staff, and not just a competitive activity for the prestige of an institution. Universities will inevitably host many young people with eating disorders, given the demographic involved. The UK is underprovided with specialist eating disorders services, so that universities may need to develop expertise to support young adults in association with NHS clinics. However, eating disorders can affect people of any age or gender. Staff as well as students may experience these conditions and should be offered services where their privacy is protected.

Keywords

Student mental healthphysical activity and mental healthsleep and mental healthbody image disorderslecture times and mental healtheating disordersUniversity mental health transition to universityuniversity staff mental healthstudent alcohol use student social media mental health
Type
Chapter
Information
Improving University Mental Health , pp. 54 - 71
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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