Eating Disorder Awareness Week!

This week, February 26- March 4 is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week! So what does that mean exactly? The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) uses this time to educate, raise awareness, celebrate recovery, take action and fight for change. NEDA says “it’s time to shatter the stigma and increase access to care. It’s Time to Talk About It! ” (Source: NEDA ) 

So let’s talk about it! What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are complex, serious, and potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person’s mental, physical and emotional health.  They are not a fad, phase or lifestyle choice. They are illnesses that affect a person’s life in many areas such as relationships, work, school, and daily living. The earlier a person with an eating disorder seeks treatment the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional recovery (Source: NEDA- Get Facts ).

The different types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). In the US, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from an eating disorder at some time in their life (Source: NEDA- Get Facts). “A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder (Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales, & Nielsen, 2011)” (Source: NEDA- Get Facts).  On NEDA’s website you can find all sorts of statistics about dieting and clean eating, substance abuse, obesity, and bullying and weight shaming by clicking here  and here.  These statistics are alarming.

Warning Signs and Symptoms can be found here.

Risk Factors can be found here.

Evaluation and Diagnosis information can be found here.   
Treatment information can be found here. 

Recovery

There are three parts to recovery when it comes to eating disorders, physical recovery, behavioral recovery, and psychological recovery. Physical recovery is when an individual has restored his or her weight to an appropriate and healthy level, normal electrolyte and hormone levels, etc. Behavioral recovery is when an individual stops or dramatically reduces food restriction, overexercising, purging and/or binge eating. Psychological recovery addresses the cognitive and emotional aspects of the eating disorder such as body image issues, rules around food, eating and weight, and perfectionism (Source: NEDA-Recovery).

“Recovery also involves challenging social norms about food, weight, and dieting. Our culture’s toxic messages around these issues means that eating disordered behaviors can be praised, and a clinical disorder disguised as just another diet. Some people have found it helpful to insulate themselves temporarily from these messages as they begin recovery. Later, when they are psychologically stronger, they can learn how to fight back against these social dictates. Many have found it helpful to think critically about media messages around the so-called ‘perfect body’ and ‘perfect diet’ and develop a more realistic, inclusive, and healthful definition for themselves”(Source: NEDA-Recovery).

A No Weigh Declaration- I think this is awesome!!!!!

Relapse 

According to NEDA, Common warning signs of relapse are: 

• Avoiding meals and events involving food
• Making efforts to eat alone
• A return to obsessing about food and weight
• Overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt after eating
• Concealing information from loved ones and your treatment team
• Resuming repeatedly checking appearance in the mirror and weighing outside of treatment
• Justifying small slips and lapses, saying that it’s no big deal or it’s not that bad
• Becoming irritable when the subject of food or eating disorders is brought up
• An increase in stress with no way to manage it
• Increasing anxiety, perfectionism, and depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Isolation from friends and loved ones

“The best way to deal with relapse is to accept the possibility that it might happen, soon or in the distant future, and make a plan to help manage it. 

• Identify your triggers. Based on what you’ve learned in recovery, identify the types of situations where you think you might be most likely to struggle. Write down as many as you can realistically think of.
• Identify warning signs. What are signs that recovery is continuing to go well for you? What about when you might need more support? Lastly, what are the signs that you are in full-blown relapse? Note psychological, behavioral, and social signs, such as avoiding meals, not sleeping well, increasing perfectionism, irritability, and breaking plans with friends.
• Identify support people. Find several people, including a therapist, dietitian, psychiatrist, or other professional, whom you can turn to when you’re stressed or having concerns about emerging eating disordered behavior. If appropriate, encourage them to talk to you about any concerns they see as well" (Source: NEDA- Relapse).