Eating Disorders Among Youth: How School Counselors Can Help

Since the pandemic, the increase in individuals’ desire to look a certain way has changed many lives, mainly those of our youth. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, eating disorders have increased by 50% among youth, causing alarm for many. (Rodgers et al., 2020; van Eeden et al., 202). Research shows that a few causes of eating disorders include body image and social influence, genetics, and comorbid mental health issues (Barakat et al., 2023). Therefore, as social media usage and social distancing increased during COVID-19, it is not unnoticed that these factors could have exacerbated the growth in eating disorders as adolescents who had more time to access social media networks and utilize them in ways they had not been used before, such as sharing weight-loss strategies and promoting a culture that labeled food as “good” or “bad.” This allows those who are not aware of what can cause eating disorders to be engulfed in this idolized world.

Due to this increase in social media usage and the tumultuous times of COVID-19, the rise in eating disorders lends itself to understanding how we can help these adolescents and young adults who are either engaged in eating disorders or are showing symptoms of concern. Given this age range, an avenue to consider for assistance is trained educators. There is a gap in research that explains the role trained educators, mainly school counselors, can play in helping prevent and intervene in eating disorders. This article will help explain a few ways school counselors can help students with eating disorders at their site. Literature encompasses a few ideas: providing academic support for those with eating disorders, understanding the social-emotional pathway for students with eating disorders, and utilizing methods such as media literacy to combat eating disorders in schools through knowledge and education.

Causes of Eating Disorders

As mentioned earlier, eating disorders have a plethora of causes. They can be associated with genetics, psychological, and mood disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, and body image issues surrounding the pressure on adolescent girls to be thin (Udo & Grilo, 2019; Barakat et al., 2023). Additionally, research by Barakat et al., 2023 showed that exposure to images of appearance ideals had a significant impact on adolescents who were seen as high risk for developing eating disorders due to other factors in their lives. These research findings are alarming and since the main group of individuals who associate with these adolescents throughout the day are educators, having school counselors and educators knowledgeable about eating disorders can help pave the way for prevention and intervention at a young age.

Role of A School Counselor

School counselors play an important role in conversations regarding academics, social-emotional needs, and career and college development for adolescents in the K-12 education system. The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model (2019) explains school services regarding mental health and school counselors. School counselors are asked to create a curriculum that supports a student's social-emotional development and provides services that can help achieve success in and outside of school. Here are some strategies school counselors and other school officials can consider:

Creating a Positive Mindset: Social Emotional Support- Research shows that in adolescence, eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, both considered to be the most common eating disorders, can be a way to manage an escape from negative emotional experiences (Cuesta-Zamora et al., 2018). Therefore, discovering ways to help these students develop positive outlets for regulating negative emotions rather than relying on harming their health is critical for a healthy sense of well-being. One method a school counselor can use to support these students is small group or individual counseling sessions that discuss the impact of eating disorders cognitively and how they can manage their emotions more effectively. These sessions can provide lessons on topics surrounding body esteem and addressing approval-seeking behavior (Paolini, 2016; Schiele et al., 2020). This should only be advised if the student, parent, and school counselor feel it is the best option for the student.

Cognitive Implications for Academic Support- Eating disorders also have an impact on the development of neurotransmitters and neural communication in the brain. Eating disorders have been linked to inhibiting frontal lobe activity which problems in cognitive function and emotional regulation (Fonville et al., 2014; Keeler et al., 2022). There is a need for school counselors to support these students with eating disorders because this cognitive impact can challenge their memory retention and the ability to focus and manage their emotions, leading to an environment where learning is nearly impossible. One way school counselors can create a space where these students can achieve success regardless of their conditions is through scheduling and providing accommodations. As a school counselor, creating a safe space that is understanding is a great place to start. This could include but is not limited to, listening to whether students need certain classes in the morning or afternoon depending on their fatigue levels, if they need special accommodations in class, or if they need to move to an online/hybrid platform to assist their recovery. If needed, school counselors and 504 coordinators can work together to provide accommodations as mentioned by ASCA (ASCA, 2019).

Effective Critique of Social Media- As mentioned at the beginning of this post, research shows that social media is one of the most important factors that play a role in the development of eating disorders in adolescents (Rodgers et al., 2020; Vall-Roque et al., 2021). One approach school counselors can use to increase student's awareness of social media is through a curriculum on media literacy that helps students critically examine the conflicting messages they encounter online about physical health and eating behaviors. For example, research shows that by creating lessons that critique media advertising and reflective writing, students are introduced to interventions for eating disorders without having to seek outside treatment (Atkinson et al., 2023; Kristoffersen et al., 2022). School counselors can work with teachers to help create lessons and activities that show students the appropriate ways to vet social media posts and find ones that promote body positivity.

Conclusions

This article has reviewed methods surrounding the role of school counselors in helping prevent and intervene in eating disorder symptoms among students on primary and secondary level campuses. School counselors can help students academically, social-emotionally, and by providing awareness of the media. There is a need to bridge the gap between school counselors' understanding of eating disorders and their ability to effectively support students facing eating disorders. This could involve professional development workshops on eating disorder behaviors, prioritizing their cognitive, psychical, and emotional impacts. By providing this knowledge, we move closer to helping students with eating disorders recognize the importance of self-acceptance and understanding that resources are available to support them on school campuses.

American School Counselor Association. (2019). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs, 4th edition (4th ed.).

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Miranda Gasenica received her Undergraduate degree and Master’s in Education degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and completed her M.A.ED: School Counseling, PPS from Concordia University Irvine in 2024. Miranda is passionate about mental health and aims to continue creating an environment where students feel safe and welcomed so they can thrive and reach their full potential. She currently teaches high school psychology but hopes to transition into school counseling in the near future.