A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

Body weight and body mass index (BMI), while inaccurate and inappropriate for many reasons, are still used to indicate the presence and severity of an eating disorder. (1) This approach is not weight inclusive and can lead to misdiagnosis in those with "atypical" anorexia nervosa (AAN) who often present with “normal” or “above normal” body weight. (2) The Health at…

Many eating disorder symptoms have to do with bodies: being preoccupied with your body, going to great lengths to change it, having a distorted sense of what it looks like. Given that, it would be reasonable to assume that eating disorder treatment would focus on body image issues right upfront—but this isn’t the case. In evidence-based eating disorder treatment, body…

CW: Mentions of Suicide Pretty much anyone who knows me also knows that I've recovered from an eating disorder. As an eating disorder therapist, I’d shout it from the rooftops if I could! Why? Because in the midst of my eating disorder, I felt ashamed of who I was and felt like there was no way out. I thought a…

Eating disorders, like many mental illnesses, can make you feel isolated and alone. It can be difficult to know how to connect with your loved ones or truly let in support. Having trouble relating to others can be a common experience. In fact, there’s an entire theory that helps explain it. Attachment styles describe the different patterns people have when…

The return to school is never seamless for kids. While there’s sure to be excitement about reuniting with friends and getting new clothes, the stress of new classmates, teachers, and changes in routine can actually be very emotionally taxing for young ones. And for students who’ve gone through puberty or experienced weight fluctuations over the course of the summer, the…

Did you know that nearly 30 million people in the United States struggle with an eating disorder? It’s likely that someone you know has experienced one or more eating disorders in their lifetime. There are many preconceived notions about these common and treatable conditions, but it’s important to get the facts so you can better understand eating disorders. This article…

CW: Mentions of "ob*sity" - While we absolutely do not support the use of weight stigmatizing language, the terms "ob*sity" and "ob*se" are used below. Please take care of yourself! If you search for the word “ob*sity” in Google on any given day, the search will return millions of results. At the time of writing this article, 752 million to…

Support groups are an incredibly helpful part of so many recovery journeys, but they can be intimidating to join!" And, we don’t blame you for feeling nervous. Logging on to a virtual meeting full of strangers to talk about a vulnerable topic isn’t the easiest thing to do. However, eating disorder support groups are welcoming spaces that can help those…

When someone is struggling with their mental health, the first recommendation they often get is to see a therapist—and often, that’s just what they need. But with eating disorders, the role of therapy is more complex. Eating disorder therapy is an integral part of treatment, but it’s not the only part, and it often looks different than people might expect.…

Did you know that nearly 30 million Americans experience an eating disorder in their lifetime? Eating disorders are health conditions that are serious, common, and treatable. This comprehensive guide will define eating disorders, explain signs and symptoms, dive deep on common disorders, and help connect you to the support you or a loved one may need.  What Is An Eating…