Guidelines for Residential Assistants in Approaching Eating Disorders in College

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

Dorm life, with all its challenges, may bring with it some of the most memorable experiences.

Any college student who has lived in campus dormitories can likely retell countless stories of roommates, all-nighters, and many memories that make the college experience unforgettable.

Resident assistants (RA) are a large part of the dorm life, set in place to help oversee and supervise a floor or hall of dorm residents. RAs can be an older college student, such as a senior year student overseeing a freshman dorm hall, or peer leader who typically lives in the same area of students they are supervising.

Role of a Resident Assistant

RAs are expected to balance both personal relationships with students/residents while upholding a professional standard of conduct. Among all the college professionals, RAs might be in the most optimal position to reach students directly, particularly as they are living with and among the residents, which they are supervising.

When it comes to recognizing potentially harmful behaviors among residents, RAs are on the front line being submerged in dorm life and may be the first to identify potentially harmful behaviors exhibited among students.

Guidance for RAs in Recognizing Eating Disorders

RAs may become aware of abnormal eating behaviors among residents that may strike as concerning, and it is important to heed these red flags. If a resident appears to be isolating from peers and roommates, is avoiding social situations, seems to be restricting caloric intake or circumstances in which food is involved, or appears to be anxious around food, these signs may indicate that a more severe problem is at hand.

Any significant changes in eating behaviors, drastic weight changes, and/or mood/personality changes can also be indicative of a more complex issue.

For an RA who may be aware of these behaviors, it is important to understand how to approach a student, or how to best communicate with upper management to convey concerns for a student who may be struggling with an eating disorder.

Many universities and college campuses may consider implementing a training program for RAs to better identify, recognize, and communicate these potential issues, especially as eating disorders are problematic on college campuses. The earlier an eating disorder is recognized and identified, the sooner treatment can be implemented to help improve overall prognosis.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What do you think are ways a resident assistant can help a student struggling with an eating disorder?

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on August 21, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com