#19: National Eating Disorder Week

This week, we will be highlighting National Eating Disorders Week, which runs from February 24 to March 2, 2025. This week is meant to bring eating disorders to the light, and for people to speak out and seek help. It is also a time for people who have suffered from an eating disorder to recover and to heal. 

By definition, an eating disorder is a mental disorder where the person has abnormal eating behaviors. These behaviors can affect the person’s physical health, as well as their mental or emotional health. Some common eating disorders include but are not limited to: 

• Anorexia - people who have very low body weight, and have an intense fear of gaining weight. People with anorexia have a flawed way of seeing their body, and can try to achieve a thinner appearance by starvation or too much exercise. 

• Bulimia - people with bulimia are characterized with bouts of overeating in a short amount of time, then purging or self vomiting, to avoid gaining weight. Purging is often seen as the most common way to avoid gaining weight, but people can also follow strict dieting practices after overeating, or take on extreme exercising to get similar results. 

• Binge-eating - this is similar to bulimia. Binge eating is when you eat large amounts of food in a short amount of time. People may feel like their eating is out of control and cannot stop. 

• Avoidant/Restrictive food intake disorder - this one focuses on fear and anxieties about food, or the consequences of eating, like choking on something. Although it may not focus around weight and body appearance, it still can limit your oral intake. 

• Orthorexia nervosa - this one is new, however controversial. This is characterized by an obsession with healthy eating and an extreme addiction on food purity. 

With eating disorders, people can obsess with eating too much or too little. They can also focus on their body shape and weight in most cases. Eating disorders can come from many things, including anxiety, trauma, depression, and other mental health issues. 

I have some experience with eating disorders, but compared to other dietitians, my knowledge is lacking. I was a dancer when I was younger, so I was pressured to develop an eating disorder during my training years. Other young girls around me were pressured to do the same. I studied at an eating disorder clinic for three days in Colorado, but three days was not enough time to fully comprehend the work of the dietitians there. Although my education on the topic may be limited, I have still gained some knowledge and understanding about it throughout my life. In my opinion, there seems to be a stigma around eating disorders. Many people can sympathize for people with eating disorders, but yet they may not take the initiative to learn how to help, especially if a loved one develops an eating disorder. Also, eating disorders are often seen as under-nourishment, but people who eat too much food can also be classified to have an eating disorder. 

Many people do not realize that dieting increases the risk of developing an eating disorder. Seeing the scale constantly go up and down can be depressing, and when you jump from new diet to new diet, it may cause more damage to your body and your mind than you realize. I always tell my clients and patients that all foods have a place in your diet/lifestyle. I do not shame certain foods, I do not put fear in my clients for consuming certain products, and I do not villainize a certain food or food group. Yes, the food choices are important, but the serving sizes and eating patterns are just as important. 

If you think that you or a loved one has an eating disorder and needs help, then here is a link to The National Eating Disorders Association website: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/

Practical Ways Towards Peachy Living:

1) If you or a loved one have an eating disorder, seek help from a trained medical professional. I urge you to NOT turn to social media for advice.

2) I encourage people to see if therapy is a good tool for them. Therapy can be useful for your emotional and mental health.