Today marks the first day of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 26-March 5) held by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). This year’s theme is “It’s Time to Talk About It”. There are so many myths and assumptions about eating disorders and not enough facts. In order to spread awareness, educate about the disease, promote screenings and save lives, myself along with many other ED Survivors will be “talking about it” all week.
Because this subject is very close to my heart and is a big part of who I am today, please learn and help me spread awareness. As a girl fighting for her life at the age of 19 from anorexia & then years later battling bulimia and binging disorders, I know how real the mental and physical pain of this disease is. Through my story and experiences, I want to show that recovery is possible and there is so much more to life than just living in our separate eating disorder world.
To kick off the week, lets talk about some quick facts on eating disorders:
- Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents
- Anorexia is diagnosed equally among all ethnic groups
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
- 20% of people suffering from anorexia prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
- Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment
- about 80% of Americans who do seek treatment from eating disorders do not receive adequate treatment
- Treatment of an eating disorder costs from $500 to $2000 per day
- Health insurance companies do not typically cover the cost of treating eating disorders
- 304 million Americans…
- 7 million women, 1 million men have an eating disorder
- 152 million people know someone with an eating disorder
- 8 million with disorders…
- 35% of anorexics make full recoveries
- 7.5% of anorexics die within 10 years
- 19% of anorexics die within 20 years
Source: Z6Mag.com
