Eating disorders thrive in silence and secrecy which makes it important to talk about them openly and honestly. February is National Eating Disorder Awareness Month so let's talk about it.
For a lot of my life, I knew what eating disorders were but I didn't think it ever applied to me. I had only one picture in my head of what someone with an eating disorder looked like and I didn't exactly fit that image, so I thought I couldn't possibly have an eating disorder. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon--while more than 29 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, less than 1/3 will ever recieve access to care, and every 52 minutes someone dies as a direct result of their eating disorder.
Facts from ANAD's ED Statistics--
- Less than 6% of people with eating disorders are clinically underweight according to the BMI, which in itself is an issue for another time.
- BIPOC people are affected by eating disorders at the same rates or higher, than their white peers, but only 50% as likely to be diagnosed with one.
- Adolescent patients using public insurance are only 1/3 as likely to recieve the recommended mental health treatment for their eating disorders compared to adolescent patients with private insurance.
- Transgender college students are diagnosed at rates 4x higher than their cisgender peers.
- Between 6-17% of patients with eating disorders also have ADHD and between 10-35% also have OCD.
- While men are estimated to make up 25% of those with eating disorders, women are still 5x more likely to be diagnosed and 1.5x more likely to recieve treatment.
- Body Dysmorphic Dysorder impacts military members, both male and female, at rates 5x higher than the overall population.
- People in larger bodies are at higher risk of using unhealthy weight control behaviors.
- Type 1 Diabetes increases both the risk of experiencing an eating as well as severe medical complications.
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders, the leading national nonprofit for eating disorders, has worked tirelessly over the past two decades to change these statistics. During the weekend of February 27 - March 1, 2026, I will be participating in The Alliance’s annual NOT ONE MORE Weekend.
Participating in The Alliance's fundraiser for NOT ONE MORE Weekend is important to me because I have had the privilege to access care that so many people do not. Without access to the support I've had and the treatment I've recieved, from UHS services as a student, to outpatient care from my therapist & RD at Synergos, and higher levels of care through Rogers from IOP to residential, I would not have been able to graduate with my MSAT cohort, pass my BOC, and get back to doing what I love as a personal trainer and group training instructor with RecWell. Not only does The Alliance help raise awareness for eating disorders which improves recognition and decreases bias and stigma, it also connects those in need to resources that can help with diagnosis and treatment of their eating disorders.
Please support me as I join this global movement to ensure that NOT ONE MORE life is lost, NOT ONE MORE child is taken, and NOT ONE MORE precious moment is destroyed by this insidious disease. All proceeds from the NOT ONE MORE Weekend will directly fund their free, weekly, therapist-led, virtual eating disorder support groups!
In 2025 alone, more than 33,184 individuals from all 50 states and 88 countries around the world attended Alliance groups. The Alliance is the only national nonprofit organization that provides free, weekly, therapist-led eating disorders support groups; free referrals for all levels of care through a therapist-staffed helpline and findEDhelp; and unique and empowering Southern Smash events. Simply put, The Alliance saves lives.
If you are willing and able to financially contribute, please consider donating to my page so that I can help The Alliance continue to make a difference nationwide!
I appreciate you!
Maya :)