Eating Disorder Awareness Month
February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month (EDAM), a time dedicated to shining a light on the profound impact eating disorders have on individuals of all ages and backgrounds. EDAM exists to promote early intervention, expand access to compassionate, evidence-based care, and remind those who are struggling that recovery is possible.
As this month comes to a close, we want to reflect on the broader picture by looking at a few statistics that highlight just how deeply eating disorders affect our communities. Here are just a few:
9% of the U.S. population, or 28.8 million Americans, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.
Every 52 minutes, 1 person dies as a direct consequence of an eating disorder.
Global eating disorder prevalence increased from 3.5% to 7.8% between 2000 and 2018.
22% of children and adolescents worldwide show disordered eating.
15% of women will suffer from an eating disorder by their 40s or 50s, but only 27% receive any treatment for it.
These statistics can feel heavy and overwhelming, especially if someone you care about is struggling. If that’s you, take a deep breath. There is support available, and healing is possible.
If you or someone you love is struggling, we are here to help. With over 10 years of experience supporting individuals across all eating disorder diagnoses and levels of care, we are passionate about providing thoughtful, individualized, and evidence-based support to every client we serve.
And you don’t need a formal diagnosis to reach out. If you feel consumed by anxiety around food, exercise, or body image, that is reason enough. Your experience is valid, and you deserve care.
Visit the link below to schedule an appointment or connect with us to learn more about how we can support you. We’re also happy to collaborate with and refer to trusted therapists, medical providers, and other members of your care team to ensure you have comprehensive support. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.
Sources
Deloitte Access Economics. The Social and Economic Cost of Eating Disorders in the United States of America: A Report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders.June 2020. Available at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/.
Galmiche, M., Déchelotte, P., Lambert, G., & Tavolacci, M. P. (2019). Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000-2018 period: a systematic literature review. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 109(5), 1402–1413. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy342.
López-Gil, J. F., García-Hermoso, A., Smith, L., Firth, J., Trott, M., Mesas, A. E., Jiménez-López, E., Gutiérrez-Espinoza, H., Tárraga-López, P. J., & Victoria-Montesinos, D. (2023). Global Proportion of Disordered Eating in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5848
Micali, N., Martini, M. G., Thomas, J. J., Eddy, K. T., Kothari, R., Russell, E., Bulik, C. M., & Treasure, J. (2017). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of eating disorders amongst women in mid-life: A population-based study of diagnoses and risk factors. BMC Medicine, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-016-0766-4