The image above shows a black man on the left wearing a white t shirt, sitting on the couch with a woman of colour wearing a white shirt with black polka dots and blue jeans. They are sharing some dumplings with a jar of sauce.
(TW: eating disorders)
Over 70% of those who suffer with eating disorders will not seek treatment due to stigma.*
It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week my dears and the theme this year ‘Every Body to Have a Seat at the Table’ aims to encourage conversations that raise awareness, challenge systemic biases and highlight stories from all backgrounds and experiences. I decided to bust some myths around some common misconceptions about eating disorders.
Myth: only women are impacted by eating disorders.
Busted: Eating disorders transcend gender, race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation etc.
Myth: eating disorders are a choice.
Busted: “Current thinking by eating disorder researchers and clinical experts holds that eating disorders are caused by both genetic and environmental factors; they are bio-sociocultural diseases. A societal factor (like the media-driven thin body ideal) is an example of an environmental trigger that has been linked to increased risk of developing an eating disorder. Environmental factors also include physical illnesses, childhood teasing and bullying, and other life stressors. Historical data reveals that some of the earliest documented cases of eating disorders were associated with religious fasting. Additionally, they may run in families, as there are biological predispositions that make individuals vulnerable to developing an eating disorder.”*
Myth: You have to be thin to have an eating disorder.
Busted: eating disorders impact people of all ages, shapes and size.
Myth: Eating disorders aren’t that big of a deal.
“Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Up to 20% of individuals with chronic anorexia nervosa will die as a result of their illness. Community studies of anorexia, bulimia, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS, now called OSFED) show that all eating disorders have similar mortality rates. Besides medical complications from binge eating, purging, starvation, and over-exercise, suicide is also common among individuals with eating disorders. People who struggle with eating disorders also have a severely impacted quality of life.”*
Head over to National Eating Disorders for more information, resources and to see what’s the haps this week for #NEDAwareness.
