Happy National Eating Disorders Awareness Week! NEDAwareness Week is a great time for family and friends to learn about eating disorders and show support of their loved one’s battle. This year’s theme is See the Change, Be the Change. We believe the best way to destigmatize eating disorders is by spreading awareness. If you aren’t sure how to get a conversation started, keep reading for talking points you can use to help clear up common eating disorder misconceptions.

Eating disorders don’t discriminate. They can affect people of all ages, genders, religions, and ethnicities.
A person does not have to be emaciated to be suffering from an eating disorder. Mental, emotional, and physical symptoms vary by person which is why specialized treatment is crucial for recovery.
Eating disorders are not a choice. They are serious mental illnesses that often evolve from biological predispositions and co-occur with other mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A predisposition does not guarantee a person will develop an eating disorder. Conversely, a person without a predisposition may develop one due to triggers like socio-economic stressors, environmental factors, body portrayal in the media, teasing and bullying, or past trauma.
Recovery can be a long road and isn’t as simple as “just eating.” It’s important for loved ones to be supportive and patient throughout the highs and lows of the process.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. In fact, the mortality rate for people with anorexia is 6x higher than the general population. Those battling an eating disorder are at an increased risk for heart and kidney failure, electrolyte imbalance, rupture of the stomach or esophagus among other medical complications. There is also an increased risk of suicide.

You can find more eating disorder resources, educational material and expanded information on these topics by visiting www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.