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SALT LAKE CITY — National Eating Disorder Awareness Week happens each year during the month of February and this year, it takes place from Feb. 25 – March 3.
This year’s theme is "Come As You Are." The goal is to send a message "to individuals at all stages of body acceptance and eating disorders recovery that their stories are valid." Organizers say everyone is invited, "especially those whose stories have not been widely recognized, to have the opportunity to speak out, share their experiences, and connect with others.”
Eating disorders are considered serious, life-threatening mental illnesses. While they are treatable, they often go undetected for a few reasons: misconceptions about what they are and who they affect, and the cultural normalization of food and weight preoccupation.
As a registered dietitian who works regularly with individuals struggling with eating disorders, I see first hand how devastating an eating disorder can be to someone’s health, relationships and quality of life. They often suffer in silence because an eating disorder can be difficult to understand if you aren’t familiar with how it may affect someone.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week provides the opportunity to educate the public on these important issues. To help with that, I asked some fellow registered dietitians what they wish more people knew about eating disorders. These were their responses:
—Jessica-Lauren Newby, registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist at With Milk and Honey, LLC
—Emily Murray, registered dietitian at Nashville Child and Family Wellness Center
—Crystal Karges, registered dietitian nutritionisht and eating disorder specialist at Crystal Karges Nutrition
—Dylan Murphy, registered dietitian at Dylan Murphy Nutrition
—Jaimie Winkler, registered dietitian at Forward With Food
—Sydney Bates, registered dietitian at Nourish Rx
—Haley Goodrich, registered dietitian at INSPIRD Nutrition
• Toll-free national eating disorders helpline: 1-800-931-2237, available Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.- 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. EST
• 24/7 crisis support via text: send the word NEDA to 741741.
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