For those familiar with my story, you know that it includes 36 years of a hidden addiction living with an eating disorder.
It was not obvious because everything appeared to be great on the outside. I was not underweight but I was dying a slow death. The cure to my eating disorder took place when the underlying cause was addressed. It was never about the food. That was a method of coping with perfectionism, shame, and a severe lack of self-acceptance due to societal pressures and trying to be someone I "should" be. Now I live a life completely free of this beast. No one deserves to live in the purgatory of an eating disorder. Please consider donating to this very important cause bringing awareness and recovery to those affected.
Here are some eye-opening statistics:
Eating disorders affect people of every age, race, size, gender identity, sexual orientation, and background.
- Every 52 minutes someone dies due to an eating disorder. (10,200 deaths each year)
- 28.8million Americans are struggling with eating disorders.
- 26% attempt suicide
- Less than 6% are medically underweight
- Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose.
- 35-57% of adolescent girls engage in crash dieting, fasting, self-induced vomiting, diet pills, or laxatives.19
- Eating disorders are illnesses in which people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.
- There are various types of eating disorders. The most common are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder.
- Biological, psychological, and societal influences can all contribute to an eating disorder.
The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the outreach, education, early intervention, support, and advocacy for all eating disorders.