Removal of Harmful Calorie Labeling on Campus
Image Credit: Reese Wilcox.
The University of Minnesota, Duluth has vending machines all across campus with stickers promoting the reader to choose a lower calorie option. These stickers are displayed on the Coca-Cola vending machines.
Calorie labeling such as these stickers are linked to detrimental effects in people with eating disorders (Beetham et al., 2023). Additionally, calorie labeling can lead those in recovery to relapse (Putra, 2023).
Eating disorders are associated with lowered daily living skills as well as lessened behavioral and emotional regulation (Diaz-Marsa, 2022). In an article by Keeler et al., they interviewed patients who had experienced restrictive eating disorders: “doing everyday activities was really difficult because I was just so tired and didn't have any energy... and, and I guess it was more a case of trying to... figure out how I was going to get through the day.” Research has also shown that people with eating disorders experience cognitive difficulties, such as poor processing speed, and lowered levels of self esteem (Keeler et al., 2022).
College-aged people are already at an increased risk of developing an eating disorder. Many factors contribute to this: the need for control that is often taken away during college years, previous mental health issues, and low self esteem (Jacobson, 2016). The National Eating Disorder Alliance estimates that between 10 and 20% of women and 4 to 10% of men in college have an eating disorder, and these rates are consistently rising (Collegiate Survey Project, 2013).
It is damaging and irresponsible for UMN Duluth to display messaging indicating that calories are harmful and should be restricted (see image; Collegiate Survey Project, 2013). Northwestern University Dining removed all calorie labeling in their dining hall because of student feedback that calories were harmful (Editor & Schmitt, 2023).
The most common onset of eating disorders is between 18 and 21 years of age, which is the typical age of an undergraduate student (Collegiate Survey Project, 2013). Eating disorders are the second most deadly mental disorder (Arcelus et al., 2011). Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate among eating disorders, while Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) have slightly lower mortality rates (Arcelus et al., 2011). While BN and EDNOS have lower mortality rates, they are just as damaging both mentally and physically.
In order to protect the health and welfare of their students, faculty, and guests, The University of Minnesota Duluth should remove this harmful messaging on their vending machines across campus.
Resources:
The free, on campus counseling available to UMD students.
A local, all virtual, outpatient clinic that specializes in eating disorder care.
A national alliance for eating disorders that has information and low cost resources.