February 26 – March 4 is Eating Disorders Awareness Week

March 2017

February 26 – March 4 is Eating Disorders Awareness Week

It’s time to talk about it! According to the National Eating Disorder Association, eating disorders such as bulimia, binge eating disorder, and anorexia are serious illnesses that involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding food, exercise, and body image. Contrary to common stereotypes, eating disorders affect all kinds of people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, sexuality, or background. In fact, 30 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

But despite the staggering number of people affected and the reality that they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, eating disorders often live in the shadows and most people don’t get the help they deserve.

The most important thing anyone can do for a person with an eating disorder is to encourage treatment.

The following may be signs of eating disorders:

• Preoccupation with body or weight
• Obsession with calories, food, or nutrition
• Constant dieting, even when thin
• Rapid, unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Taking laxatives, diet pills or compulsive exercising
• Making excuses to get out of eating
• Avoiding social situations that involve food
• Going to the bathroom right after meals to purge
• Eating alone, at night, or in secret
• Hoarding high-calorie food

If you have concerns that you or a family member may be suffering with an eating disorder, encourage them to take or share NEDA’S online screening tool: http://nationaleatingdisorders.org/screening.

For information and resources visit: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Contact Helpline: 800-931-2237 OR visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/helplinechat

For information about the Suffolk County’s in-service programs on  eating disorders for school personnel, call 853-3162.