Eating Disorder Awareness Week

February 27 to March 5 is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash.

The final week of February was dedicated to Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) with the theme, “It’s Time For Change.” During the week, people spoke about their lived experiences while organizations provided resources and education to help end the stigma surrounding eating disorders. 

In the United States alone, 28.8 million Americans experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives, according to The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). Eating disorders also have the second highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders, surpassed only by Opioid Use Disorder. 

On February 27, Say It Brave, a mental health advocacy organization, held a Zoom event called “Smash Talk: Not One More,” which focused on eating disorders on college campuses. Students from across the country joined to listen to different nonprofit organizations such as The Hidden Opponent, The National Alliance for Eating Disorders and Morgan’s Message. Individual advocates also spoke about their lived experiences battling eating disorders. 

“I entered college totally oblivious to the fact that I had an eating disorder,” Psychotherapist Colleen Wener said at the Save It Brave event. “Being a dance major and model caused me to struggle even more. I was constantly lightheaded, tired, hungry and cold. My thoughts constantly revolved around food and my body.”

According to the Eating Recovery Center, an eating disorder is a “serious mental illness characterized by highly distressing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors related to one’s food intake, body shape and weight.” There are a variety of different eating disorders such as anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, rumination disorder, ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder) and OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder).

“Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that can be influenced by biological, genetic, psychological, environmental, and social factors,” Registered Dietitian Shana Spence said at the Say It Brave event.

Many eating disorders begin between the ages of 18 and 21 according to NEDA. The association estimates that between 10 and 20% of women and four to 10% of men in college suffer from an eating disorder, and rates are on the rise. Eating disorders don’t discriminate and the NEDA helpline has experienced a 107% increase in contacts since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“BIPOC folks are less likely to be asked by a doctor about eating disorder symptoms and are half as likely to be diagnosed and receive treatment,” Spence said. 

Eating disorders have historically been associated with white female women, but they can affect people of any demographic or ethnicity. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) 20 to 30% of adults with eating disorders also have autism. LGBTQ+ youth are also at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder with nearly nine in 10 reporting dissatisfaction with their bodies. Due to cultural bias, men are also less likely than women to seek treatment for eating disorders. 

“If more men knew about eating disorders, I think the numbers for males would be much higher,” said former University of Colorado Boulder Football player Patrick Devenny at the Say It Brave event. “I had no idea men could even get eating disorders until I was diagnosed with one.” 

Although eating disorders are complex disorders, recovery is possible. Eating disorder survivor and recovery advocate McCall Dempsey spoke at the Say It Brave Event about her 15 year struggle with an eating disorder before recognizing she needed help. In December 2010, she admitted herself to the Carolina House where she received treatment for her eating disorder over the course of the next three months. 

“It appeared on the outside that I had it all, but I did not,” Dempsey said. “There was a lot of grief on my journey and I think that it's very telling that there is no look to an eating disorder and you never know what someone is experiencing. It's okay to not be okay and it's okay to talk about mental health because mental health is just as important as physical health.” 

College students struggling with an eating disorder don’t have to fight their battle alone. Whether they reach out to counseling through campus, a supportive friend or family member, a nonprofit organization, or start treatment, help is available. 

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, call The National Eating Disorders Association at 1-800-931-2237. Or reach out to Marist Couseling through email or call to make an appointment at 845-575-3314. In addition, students can Contact Sodexo’s Dietitian Kelly Pearson at Kelly.Pearson3@sodexo.com.