National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is taking place across the country, and NYU is fully prepared with a host of discussions, events, screenings and photo shoots around campus. The effort is vital for the university considering that the college environment typically magnifies body image issues and eating disorders. The increased awareness of these disorders during this week is generally coupled with improved efforts at schools to combat these issues, something NYU strongly supports.

A 2013 study from the National Eating Disorders Association found that, across 165 colleges and universities in the United States, educational tools are widely available to students both in pamphlets and on college websites. NYU provides treatment through the Medical and Mental Health Services in the Student Health Center.

A NEDA study found there is a critical lack of screening for eating disorders, despite their proven effectiveness in preventing serious complications. These types of screenings and preventative education programs are particularly important among student athletes in high-risk sports like gymnastics, wrestling and swimming. Similar questionnaires should be adopted by universities nationwide. Questions like “Are you terrified about being overweight?” and “Do you feel that food controls your life?” can identify students coping with the early stages of an eating disorder.

It is especially important for NYU to provide support for students with eating disorders, particularly freshmen who are transitioning to a new way of life, are at particular risk for developing eating disorders or increasing the severity of existing problems. Students entering college now report higher levels of stress than ever before, and stress can trigger eating disorders. This increase in stress and anxiety occurs exactly when many students are losing the support systems of family and high-school friends. Moving onto campus also brings a change in students’ diets as they transition to dining hall fare. This can reduce the availability of healthy foods and also generally heighten the stress on students who already associate eating and food with anxiety. Eating disorders often occur with other anxiety disorders, such as OCD, and sufferers may have meal rituals, specific lists of safe foods or other behaviors that are difficult to maintain on a meal plan, causing further avoidance of and stress around eating.

Considering the prevalence of eating disorders among college-age students, and the increase in risk factors associated with college life, NYU must address eating disorders. While raising awareness through this week’s activities is a good start, the university must go further to protect its students through early detection and treatment. Now is the time for NYU to take action.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Feb. 24 print edition. Email the Editorial Board at [email protected].