National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, or NEWDAW, addresses just how serious eating disorders are across the United States. Over 28 million Americans will at some point in their lifetime have an eating disorder because they impact all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, gender, sexual orientations, body shapes and weights, and socioeconomic statuses. It’s important to note that although anyone can develop an eating disorder it’s primarily people of color, gender diverse, or transgender individuals that are least likely to not only receive a diagnosis but also the least likely to receive treatment. Research has also shown an increase in eating disorders among children and older adults, however eating disorders still deeply impact teenagers and young adults.
Eating disorders are defined as a serious illness that’s associated with a disruption in a person’s eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The common risk factors that put people at an increased risk in the development of an eating disorder include body dissatisfaction, bullying, a preexisting anxiety disorder, limited social network, and a history of trauma. Additional risk factors include having a close relative with an eating disorder, sexual trauma in childhood, experienced violence or have a PTSD diagnosis, or if you have food insecurity. These eating disorders result in higher rates of anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Furthermore, all of these factors combined can contribute to job loss, reduced productivity, and healthcare costs related to treatment and support services.
Any form of an eating disorder should be taken seriously because this is a potentially fatal disorder with one person dying due to complications every 52 minutes. In the United States alone that’s an estimated 10,200 deaths per year. However, there are many successful treatment options for all forms of eating disorders and the first form of treatment is hospitalization with the possibility of 24-hour supervision when required. The four common treatment modalities in therapy include cognitive behavioral therapy, family-based treatment, group therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. Medications such as Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, and Vyvanse are also used when treating eating disorders.
Source: Office of Women’s Health, VeryWellMind