NEDA Awareness

This week is NEDA Awareness week. What exactly is that, you may be asking? Well, it stands for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week - a cause close to my heart, and is all about shining a light on the eating disorder community and those affected, as well as spreading hope and putting lifesaving resources into the hands of those that need them.

Did you know that a National survey estimated that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their life? And contrary to the belief that they are a choice, in fact they are complex medical and psychiatric illnesses that account for the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness.

And so this week I DARE you to explore a little more about this often misunderstood illness and learn how you could help someone who may be struggling. It's not about 'just' the food, or 'simply eating' again, but goes significantly deeper and yet, all the person wants, is someone to hear them and understand their struggle without judgment.

So, go on, check out the NEDA website - www.nationaleatingdisorders.org and see what you can learn. It's not about the weight and as their slogan says for this awareness week and beyond, let's "invite every body to have a seat at the table" no matter who they are or what their struggle is.