Eating Well and Staying Healthy at Penn State
Healthy eating is about more than nutrition — it’s about developing a balanced relationship with food that supports your physical and emotional well-being. University Health Services and others offers guidance to help students navigate concerns around healthy eating, build safe and sustainable eating habits, and access care when patterns around food become stressful or overwhelming. Our goal is to help you stay nourished, supported, and connected to the resources that keep you well.
Penn State Resources
Wellness Services to Get Started
Looking for support in building healthier eating habits? Penn State offers wellness resources that make it easier to stay nourished and balanced, including nutrition consultations, everyday eating tips, and guidance for developing routines that fit your life. Whether you want to feel more energized, improve your eating patterns, or simply learn what works for you, help is close by.
Healthy Eating and Living Support (HEALS)
HEALS is a multidisciplinary team of medical providers, dietitians, and mental health professionals offering coordinated support for students with mild to moderate eating and body image concerns.
Services include:
- Outpatient medical evaluation through University Health Services
- Individual counseling through the Nutrition Clinic
- Short-term individual or long-term group therapy through Counseling and Psychological Services
- Case management for referrals and insurance help
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Eating disorders are complex and may lead to significant medical complications. In some cases, students may need more intensive care than what HEALS offers. If so, CAPS can help you:
- Understand options for more structured support, including residential treatment
- Coordinate care with external providers
- Engage your support system through family or care team meetings
- Transition to recovery before returning to campus life
Penn State is adjacent to a smaller town with a community-based hospital; formal eating disorder treatment centers that provide specialized, intensive treatment are not available in the State College area. The HEALS team can provide referrals to facilities that offer Higher Level of Care.
Additionally, family and care team meetings may be used to fully communicate the student’s situation and engage the student’s support system in facilitating HLOC. Our case management team can help to identify treatment options and coordinate admission.
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Starting college can be an exciting but stressful time, especially for students with a history of eating disorders. To successfully manage the transition, students should be fully in recovery—able to independently plan and eat meals without outside support. Because recovery takes considerable effort and time, it’s important to consider a student’s medical and emotional readiness, available support resources, and long-term well-being when choosing to attend Penn State.
Navigating Disordered Eating
Support for disordered eating or body image concerns is readily available at Penn State. Connect with University Health Services for an appointment to get connected to our interdisciplinary team. We create a community of support to address all of your concerns and needs.
