...Until Eating Disorders are History...

"It's time to talk about it".  National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is February 20th-26th.

Here are the facts:

-As many as 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men are battling eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia, while millions more suffer from binge eating disorder.  These numbers only represent a portion of those affected.

-42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner.  And 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat.

-25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day.

-More than one in three "normal dieters" progresses to pathological dieting.  Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders.

-Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

-At least 50,000 individuals will die as a direct result of their eating disorder.

(www.myneda.org)

As one who has experienced the devastation of living with an eating disorder first-hand as well as the journey of healing and recovery, I can say for a fact that there is hope.  Especially with a young daughter, it is my hope and prayer that she will grow up feeling proud of herself, her body and everything it enables her to do.  I hope that she will always be at peace within herself and confident in her uniqueness and all the things unrelated to size or weight that make her exceptional and beautiful.  I hope my own life is always a reflection of healthy self-esteem, positive body image, and self-appreciation & worth to her. 

The truth about Eating Disorders is heartbreaking, but the hope of recovery is promising and encouraging.

Check out this link for tips on how to teach children to eat well and feel good about themselves.  With statics revealing the startling young age that children are beginning to develop eating disordered patterns, it's never to early to begin prevention.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/nedaDir/files/documents/handouts/TipsKids.pdf

If you or anyone you know is struggling with an Eating Disorder, don't be afraid to reach out for help!  There is HOPE!

Prevention begins with awareness.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/index.php