National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2020

Every year I try to share a post for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week with hopes to bring a bit of attention to a group of illnesses that impacts people from all genders, ethnicities, socioeconomic classes, fitness levels, and sizes.

This year, NEDA Week falls on February 24^th through March 1^st; the theme is: Come As You Are: Hindsight is 20-20.

A little cliché? Perhaps, but there is something to be said about having the ability to look backwards on our lives with distance, clarity, and resilience.

Hindsight tells me that, when I am anxious, overwhelmed, or sad, I reach for food as a numbing agent. And then I feel bad about myself when the moment passes.

It’s also told me that when I don’t keep my emotions and motivations in check, I risk using exercise and “healthy eating” as tools for punishing my body.

Hindsight informs me that sometimes I assign moral value to food and activities, using my food choices as a metric for “goodness” or “self-control” when those actions and choices are usually the opposite, serving as fuel for self-judgment and criticism.

It makes me sad that nearly every single person I know has dealt with some sort of disordered eating or exercise habit or belief. Whether it’s fad dieting, cutting out certain food groups without the presence of an allergy or intolerance, or exercising to the point of exhaustion, I am sure most of us can relate.

While maybe not clinically diagnosed with an Eating Disorder, too many women, men, and children are vulnerable to society’s fear tactics concerning food or the unfortunate belief that love and respect come only after we achieve a certain look or size.

And those who have sought treatment for a diagnosed ED often struggle to find the right physician or clinician who can offer the affordable and science-based treatment they need.

This week, take a look back and around you.

If you feel concerned about a loved one or realize that you are struggling, reach out to a friend, therapist, or your doctor. And check out the resources listed below.