Come As You Are For #NEDAwareness Week

NEDA (The National Eating Disorder Association) hosts #NEDAwareness Week each year from the last week of February through the first week of March. The organization works to raise awareness and help individuals and families affected by eating disorders find treatment, recognition, and destigmatization. NEDA aims to be a catalyst for prevention, cures, and quality care for eating disorders.

Prior themes for NEDA Week have included "Come As You Are" in 2019 and "It's Time for Change" in 2023. Each year, NEDA comes up with a new theme and discusses these themes in the context of healing from an eating disorder. However, even if you do not have an eating disorder, you can spread awareness and support your community in several ways. 

Acceptance and self-love for NEDA Week 

The National Eating Disorder Association offers acceptance and a message for self-love to individuals at all stages of body acceptance and recovery. If you are living with an eating disorder, know that recovery is possible, and you're not alone. NEDA invites everyone to speak up while supporting those in their communities who might benefit from support. 

Opening a dialogue with diverse communities living with eating disorders can be beneficial. Challenging the misconception that you "can tell" if someone has an eating disorder by looking at them is one way to promote acceptance. Eating disorders can impact people of different ages, races, genders, and sizes, regardless of background.

NEDA offers the opportunity for people with an eating disorder or those who are in recovery to tell their stories. There's no one right way to recover from an eating disorder. You may inspire others to speak up and make a change by telling your story. It could also promote self-love and remind you of your resilience throughout your experience. 

Why is eating disorder awareness valuable?

Eating disorders are mental illnesses. As such, people do not choose to have them. The symptoms of an eating disorder can often escalate to medical illness, which may be severe if left untreated. Take it seriously if you or someone you know and love is experiencing an eating disorder. You can reach the NEDA helpline at 1-800-931-2237 for immediate support as needed. Eating disorders are serious illnesses, but they are treatable.

How to get involved in #NEDAwareness Week

During #NEDAwareness Week, there are many ways to get involved, including being active on social media and telling your story about managing your eating disorder. One way to participate is in the #NEDAwareness hashtag on Instagram. Posting with this tag can be a way to help NEDA continue the dialogue about eating disorder recovery. You can also get involved in the following ways: 

• Sign up to be an Eating Disorders Awareness Week collaborator 

• Tag posts about Eating Disorder Awareness Week with #EDAW on social media 

• Attend a local EDAW event and invite others to attend 

• Participate in NEDA's "Landmark Lightings" by lighting up your business building with blue and green colors in honor of NEDAW 

• Read books by people who have lived with an eating disorder 

• Reach out for eating disorder treatment, if you believe you may be experiencing one

• Take a free eating disorder screening online 

Eating disorder recovery

Whether you're living with an eating disorder or in active recovery, you're not alone. Eating disorders are common, and multiple treatment options are available for support. One of the most effective ways to start is by seeking the guidance of a mental health professional. However, if you face barriers to in-person therapy, like time constraints, finances, or distance, you can also try online counseling. 

Online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp can connect you with an eating disorder expert from any location with an internet connection. When you're managing symptoms that might make it difficult to leave home, being able to seek care from wherever you are can be valuable. 

Additionally, research supports online therapy's ability to successfully treat symptoms of mental health conditions. One study found that cognitive-behavioral therapy online was as effective as in-person therapy in reducing eating disorder-related thoughts and improving mental health, self-esteem, and social functioning, with results sustained one year after the study's completion.