Eating Disorders

Sometimes midshipmen come to USNA with disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and sometimes these attitudes and behaviors develop and/or worsen during their time here at the Academy. We are here to help.

Once started, disordered eating behaviors may become self-perpetuating and progress into a diagnosable eating disorder. Dieting, eating, and purging help some people cope with stress or difficult emotions and help them feel as if they are in control of their lives. These   behaviors aren't effective coping strategies but instead undermine physical health, self-esteem, and a sense of competence and control.

Eating disorders can have very serious psychological and medical consequences . They can be fatal; however, they are very treatable and are particularly responsive to treatment with early intervention.

It is important for those experiencing a pattern of disordered eating symptoms to seek specialized professional help offered at the Midshipman Development Center as soon as possible. We have a dietitian and a psychologist who is an Eating Disorder Specialist on staff who can help you or a shipmate, and they work closely with a physician in the Brigade Medical Unit who can treat patients struggling with eating disorders.