From the moment we are born, our lives are defined by numbers. Our age, GPA, school ranking, social media followers—all metrics that shape how we measure success and self-worth. We live in a world that tells us numbers determine our value.
But for those struggling with eating disorders, numbers can become a prison. The number on a scale, the calories on a food label, the steps counted on a fitness tracker—each digit dictating whether the day was a success or a failure. The weight of these numbers is crushing, and for many, it can be deadly.
The Deadly Reality of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental illness. They are not just about food; they are about control, trauma, and deep-seated beliefs about self-worth. According to the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, someone dies from an eating disorder every 52 minutes. The relentless pursuit of a lower number—on a scale, on a clothing tag, on a calorie count—can lead to heart failure, organ shutdown, or suicide.
And yet, society continues to praise weight loss, idolize fitness tracking, and reinforce diet culture, all while those battling eating disorders suffer in silence. We are told to “watch what we eat,” “burn off extra calories,” and “never eat one more cookie.” But for someone in the depths of an eating disorder, that one more cookie isn’t just food—it’s a battlefield of guilt, shame, and perceived failure.
At Koru Spring, we say not one more.
Not one more person should feel like their worth is defined by a number.
Not one more life should be lost to the relentless pressure of unattainable expectations.
Not one more individual should struggle in silence, believing they are alone.
Numbers in the World of Recovery
For those in recovery from substance use disorder, numbers are equally suffocating. The number of days sober. The number of times they’ve relapsed. The percentage of people who don’t make it. The statistics can feel like an impossible weight, defining people by their setbacks instead of their resilience.
But we refuse to let our clients be defined by numbers.
At Koru Spring, we don’t see a number on a chart—we see the passionate artist rediscovering her love for painting, the devoted mother fighting to rebuild her life for her children, the brilliant student who deserves a future free from the grip of addiction. We see their strength, their struggles, and their humanity.
More Than a Statistic
The world is quick to categorize people into data points, but healing isn’t found in statistics—it’s found in connection, compassion, and care. Recovery isn’t measured in perfect streaks or flawless progress. It’s measured in small victories
At Koru Spring, not one more client will feel like they are just another case. Not one more person will be reduced to a statistic. Because behind every number is a human being—worthy, whole, and seen.
If you or someone you love is struggling, know this: you are not alone. You are not a number. And we will fight for a world where not one more life is lost to an eating disorder, to addiction, to the crushing weight of unrealistic expectations.
Because your story is more than a statistic. And it deserves to be told.
Koru Spring treats residents with eating disorders at the residential (RTC), partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) levels of care. Koru Spring offers a restorative environment for adult women of all identities to address and heal from the impacts of eating disorders. To facilitate this, our interdisciplinary team provides dual diagnosis care for conditions including anxiety, depression, and substance use. Koru Spring is part of the Lakeview Health family, a center of excellence in addiction treatment.