National Eating Disorder Awareness Week: February 23rd - March 2nd
February 23, 2018
What do you think of when you hear the word "eating disorder"? Perhaps one of the following common misconceptions come to mind:
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Eating disorders are a rich, female Caucasian problem;
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Men don't struggle with eating disorders;
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People with eating disorders are either extremely thin or overweight.
Like many mental illnesses, eating disorders are often misunderstood. They are not lifestyle choices that only affect certain genders, socio-economic statuses, ethnicities or body types. Eating disorders are serious and complex conditions that have emotional, physical and cultural components. And they do not discriminate.
Millions of people secretly struggle with food and body issues. Today's culture does not help with social media playing a huge role in comparison issues, apps on cell phones allowing people to easily photoshop pictures of themselves, and weight loss companies targeting children and adolescents. The good news is that even with all these barriers, individuals can overcome this struggle - there is hope for recovery.
In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Andrew Harris, one of HopeWay's primary therapists, gave us a few insights.
Here are some useful tips for helping a loved one recover from any kind of eating disorder.
What WILL NOT Work | What WILL Work |
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National Eating Disorder Hotline: (800) 931-2237
National Eating Disorder Association