National Eating Disorders Awareness Week takes place during February 26th through March 4th. According to NationalEatingDisorders.org, 30 million Americans suffer from advanced eating disorders while millions more suffer from negative food consumption and negative body image. To prepare for the week, here’s a list of 6 ways to support those who suffer and promote awareness.
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Celebrate body positivity
Celebrating body positivity boosts self-esteem and encourages people to accept their bodies for what they are. Challenging the idea that only being thin is beautiful will support struggling people all over the world. However, shaming someone for being thin already is not celebrating body positivity. Celebrating body positivity means supporting and accepting everyone, despite their body type.
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Be aware of the language you use
Someone who is recovering from an eating disorder may be sensitive to certain words that may encourage them to relapse. Being mindful of triggers and carefully choosing your words is an easy way to support someone recovering from an eating disorder. One way to educate yourself about possible triggers is to research eating disorders and listen to those who are recovering without judgment.
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Create open communication
Being able to talk openly about eating disorders is an important step to take on. Understanding how to communicate openly about an issue like this will promote more people to push for action and boost awareness. Doing personal research and understand how the disorder affects someone is crucial to supporting recovery. Doing personal research and communicating the facts will push to end stigmas and the idea that eating disorders are just a “woman’s problem.”
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Encourage loved ones to get screened or get screened yourself
As well as being able to openly communicate the facts about eating disorders, it is important to understand how to approach someone who is portraying the warning signs of an eating disorder. Suggesting that a loved one receive a confidential screening if the warning signs are concerning is a good idea. These can be completed either by a doctor or quickly online, this can take up to five minutes. Having the proper communication skills as well as understanding certain triggers can help with suggesting the screening.
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Promote support groups and spread the helplines
Memorizing the support helplines can help a stranger or a loved one in a tough situation. Always being aware of the support groups in your area or in a loved one’s area is important knowledge to remember. Suggesting that someone visit a support group or encouraging them to call a helpline is promoting awareness for eating disorders while offering someone a shoulder to lean on. These support groups and helplines offer information about treatment options, consulting and more.
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Take care of yourself
While promoting the awareness of eating disorders and pushing for more research, it is crucial to remember to take care of yourself and keep your health a top priority. Plain and simple, if you are unhealthy or ignoring your own warning signs, there isn’t much help to offer others.
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