The Importance Of Eating Disorders Awareness And Screening Week

Medically reviewed by Julie Dodson, MA, LCSW
Updated October 8, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team
Please be advised, the below article might mention trauma-related topics that include suicide, substance use, or abuse which could be triggering to the reader.
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The Role of The National Eating Disorders Association in Awareness

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is an annual event, typically held during the last week of February, to increase awareness about eating disorders and the importance of screening for these treatable medical conditions. The National Eating Disorders Association is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA generally hosts a variety of educational programming and provides a range of resources during this time for people who are interested in learning more about eating disorders or are worried that they or someone they love may be experiencing an eating disorder. If you believe you may be living with an eating disorder, working with a licensed therapist online or in person may be the first step toward recovery.

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Concerned you or a loved one could have an eating disorder?

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are generally defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as “serious and sometimes fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors.” Common eating disorders can include the following:

  • Binge eating disorder: A disorder in which a person may regularly consume more food than would be considered typical, known as binging, and feels an intense level of shame or disgust about their behavior. 
  • Bulimia nervosa: A disorder in which a person may regularly binge and then “purge,” or eliminate the food consumed in an unhealthy way in an attempt to control or manipulate weight gain, typically through methods like forced vomiting, consuming nonprescribed laxatives, or excessively exercising.
  • Anorexia nervosa: A disorder in which a person may have a severe fear of gaining weight and restricts their food intake as a result. Anorexia nervosa and binge eating and purging behavior can also occur in tandem, though this is less common.

Awareness of eating disorder prevalence 

A potentially common misconception about eating disorders is that these are rare conditions. While severe forms of these disorders may be rare, many people can meet the diagnostic criteria for one or more eating disorders, and many more people may demonstrate symptoms of disordered eating that don’t rise to the level of a full diagnosis. 

One of the main goals of increasing eating disorder awareness is generally to draw attention to the large (and growing) percentage of the population who are at increased risk of developing these conditions. 

Below are some statistics about eating disorder prevalence:

  • Binge eating disorder tends to be the most common eating disorder, affecting 1.2% of older adults (twice as many women as men).
  • Bulimia nervosa may affect 0.3% of adults (five times more women than men).
  • Anorexia nervosa may affect 0.6% of adults (three times more women than men).
  • 2.7% of adolescents and children typically meet the criteria for one of the above three eating disorders (twice as many girls as boys).
  • 15% of men and 20% of women may experience an eating disorder by the time they reach their 40s or 50s.
  • 10,200 deaths in the United States are typically caused by eating disorders every year.
  • The economic cost of treatment for and lost labor due to eating disorders in the U.S. is approximately $64.7 billion a year.
  • LGBTQIA+ people tend to be three times more likely than straight and cisgender people to develop eating disorders.
  • People with disabilities may be at a higher risk of developing eating disorders.
  • Veterans may also have a higher risk of eating disorders. Additional risk factors for veterans can include being female, experiencing sexual trauma, and having post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Awareness of eating disorder symptoms

Eating disorders are generally considered to be mental health conditions. However, due to the nature of disordered eating, many eating disorders can also negatively affect physical health. Understanding what eating disorder symptoms can look like may help you support people experiencing these conditions or learn to recognize patterns of disordered eating in your own life. It can also help with early detection.

Mental health symptoms of eating disorders

  • Fear of gaining weight
  • Body image concerns, like an unrealistic attitude toward body shapes and body sizes
  • Body dysmorphia, in which a person is unable to accurately view their own body
  • Feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust
  • Harsh self-judgment of one’s own personal appearance
  • Believing one is out of control (can be related to eating or a sense of loss of control of one’s life in general)
  • Suicidal ideation

Physical health symptoms of eating disorders include the following signs:

  • Upset stomach
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bone thinning
  • Anemia
  • Muscle weakness
  • Brittle nails and hair
  • Dry and yellowing skin
  • Constipation
  • Low blood pressure
  • Lanugo (growing fine hair all over the body)
  • Slower breathing and lessened ability to engage in high-exertion activities
  • Heart and brain damage
  • Organ failure
  • Infertility
  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Lethargy

Behaviors associated with eating disorders include:

  • Engaging in excessive exercise
  • Using extreme efforts to control one’s personal appearance
  • Consuming nonprescribed laxatives and diet aids
  • Not eating certain kinds of foods or food groups
  • Calorie cutting
  • Forcing oneself to throw up
  • Avoiding situations involving food
  • Fasting (not for religious or cultural reasons)
  • Altering one’s medication consumption (such as insulin) to try to lose weight
  • Eating past feeling full
  • Eating alone
  • Eating very small quantities of food
  • Eating rapidly
  • Continually checking in on one’s weight
  • Frequently dieting

Finding support for living with an eating disorder

Eating disorders can be serious mental health conditions, but they are often treatable. Treatment for an eating disorder typically involves consultation with both doctors and mental health professionals to provide holistic healing options that address both the physical and mental health aspects of the disorder. If you think that you or a loved one may have an eating disorder, healthcare providers may recommend several different treatment options.

Nutritional education and counseling

People with eating disorders may have had an unhealthy relationship with food for so long that it can be difficult for them to learn how to consume a nourishing and sustainable diet. Working with nutritionists and other experts, in combination with educational materials, to better understand the role certain foods can play in their lives may help a person recovering from an eating disorder to develop a more balanced relationship with food. They may learn to appreciate it as a source of energy and joy rather than stress and disgust. 

Medical interventions

Because of the physical health impacts of eating disorders, some people may require forms of medical support from a physician and other medical providers. This physical and emotional support could include medication and medical treatment for physical health problems that have developed as a result of disordered eating, such as heart conditions or muscle wasting. In cases of severe malnutrition, a person may need to be temporarily hospitalized or live in a residential medical setting until they are stable enough to engage in other aspects of their treatment plan. 

Mental health treatment

While there is generally no one exact cause of eating disorder development, many eating disorders co-occur alongside mental illness and past experiences of trauma. Engaging in mental health care, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can address concerns around self-esteem, negative and positive body image, and negative coping mechanisms that may have contributed to the emergence of an eating disorder. 

Benefits of online therapy

Eating disorder treatment can be complex, and navigating multiple appointments with a range of medical providers, whether therapists, psychologists, or social workers,  can seem overwhelming. If you are hoping to reach mental health care in a manner that is straightforward and convenient, you may want to consider online therapy. With online therapy, you can speak to a therapist from the comfort and safety of your own home, on your schedule.

Getty/Vadym Pastukh
Concerned you or a loved one could have an eating disorder?

Effectiveness of online therapy

Research indicates that online therapy tends to be similarly effective to traditional in-person therapy when it comes to addressing symptoms of a range of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. One recent study found no significant differences between the two different therapy modalities when it came to treating bulimia nervosa. Online therapy could be a helpful option for you or a loved one to have mental health care while recovering from an eating disorder. 

Takeaway

Raising awareness around eating disorder prevalence and symptoms can be crucial for identifying people at risk of developing eating disorders and creating support systems to help people in need of treatment. Binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa are typically seen as the most common types of eating disorders. Online therapy may be an available option for people seeking therapeutic treatment for eating disorders or disordered eating symptoms, as well as family members of those with eating disorders. Full recovery is possible with the right tools and support.
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