According to the National Eating Disorder Association, an estimated 10 million people in America suffer from an eating disorder.   The mortality rate among people with anorexia has been estimated at 0.56 percent per year.  That percentage is about 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population.   It’s a problem that is rarely talked about or dealt with.

To deal with the lack of awareness in America, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has started its annual NEDAwareness Week.  NEDA is an organization created to help families deal with the struggles they face while helping a loved one overcome an eating disorder.   NEDA’s CEO’s message states its methods of helping families, including,  “offering the latest information, resources, action-oriented advocacy and media campaigns to educate the public and policymakers and, most importantly, a sense of community to people often feeling alone and overwhelmed in their struggle to access quality, affordable care.”   NEDAwareness Week’s mission and purpose is to “ultimately prevent eating disorders and body image issues while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment.” 

NEDAwareness Week works through plenty of volunteers, eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, and teachers.  All these people come together during this week to work towards the same goal.  The goal is to raise awareness for eating disorders and encourage early intervention and treatment.   The way NEDA hopes to raise awareness this week is to encourage each volunteer to do just one thing to raise awareness.   Different methods of raising awareness include passing out pamphlets and putting up fliers, booking/ hosting a speaker, getting information out via Facebook, or host various awareness/benefit events.   NEDA just wants people to know that no matter what your schedule may be, there is still plenty you can do.  Events and information get attention, especially from the media.  Media attention can raise awareness on local, national, and international levels. 

Awareness is something that many clinics and organizations are becoming very dedicated to.  The earlier someone is exposed to awareness and treatment, the better and quicker their recovery process can be.  And the age of diagnosis is getting lower each year.  A study showed 81% of ten-year-old girls are literally afraid of being fat.  Those kinds of behaviors and thoughts are what concern many health professionals. 

Eating disorders are followed by many consequences.  Most people are aware of the physical health problems anorexia and bulimia can cause.  But many people also disregard the fact that eating disorders are mental illnesses.  The NEDA also reports that eating disorders are the most deadly mental illness in America.  They lead to so many deadly physical complications, plus many who suffer from them become at risk for depression and suicide.  Yet, eating disorders hardly get half as much attention as other mental illnesses.  In 2005, eating disorders affected 10 million people.  Alzheimer’s disease affected 4.5 million, and schizophrenia followed with 2.2 million people.  Alzheimer’s disease received $647,000,000 for research and Schizophrenia received $350,000,000.  Yet, eating disorder research received $12,000,000.  Eating disorders affected more American’s than Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia combined, yet eating disorders received a more than notable shortage of research funds.  That’s why so many people find weeks like this so important.  People can’t help or support a problem they aren’t aware of.  To gain a little extra attention, NEDA has had a catchy motto for each year’s campaign.  This year’s poster features the motto “When did it go from losing weight to losing hope?”   

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that physically and emotionally scar millions of Americans and their families each year.  It’s time to stop ignoring the issue and just deal with it.  If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder please get help.  You can call the NEDA helpline at 1-800-931-2237.  After all, “it’s time to talk about it”.