Eating Disorders Awareness
Did you know that in the U.S. alone, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their lives? Countless more individuals are affected by sub-clinical disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, mortality rates among those suffering from eating disorders are around 4-5%. The negative health impacts of disordered eating patterns are profound, and some may be lifelong. Disordered eating can lead to osteoporosis, muscle loss, tooth decay and heart failure. Additionally, eating disorders are often accompanied by substance abuse, depression and other mental health diseases. Due to the multi-faceted treatment challenges that accompany disordered eating patterns, the greatest hope for reducing the mortality rate associated with these diseases lies in prevention. How can we prevent eating disorders? We