National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness Week) is an annual campaign that educates the public about the realities of eating disorders and aims to provide hope, support and visibility to individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Organizations and initiatives like NEDA are just some of the many organizations that look to support, educate and help those that have been affected by an eating disorder.
Although the term eating is in the name eating disorders end up being about more than food. They’re complex mental health conditions that often require the intervention of medical and psychological doctors to help to alter their course. Eating disorders are a range of psychological conditions that cause unhealthy eating habits to develop in an individual. They might start out with an obsession with food, body weight or body shape.
Eating disorders can affect individuals of any gender at any stage in their life but they’re most often reported in adolescents and young women. Up to 13% of youth may experience at least one eating disorder by the age of 20 (healthline.gov). Eating disorders may be caused by a variety of factors. Some of these factors include, genetics, personality traits, biology, cultural and media ideals.
There are many resources that can help with eating disorders and they range from a family practice doctor, psychologist, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), and National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
Sources: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/common-eating-disorders