National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 26 – March 4 this year, and HPA/LiveWell, located in Albany and Poughkeepsie, New York, is striving to raise awareness regarding eating disorders and break down the stereotypes and stigmas that are so often associated.
Eating Disorders Awareness
Growing eating disorders awareness and education is more important than ever. Eating disorders continue to have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and afflict more than 30 million people in the United States alone.
For more eating disorders statistics, click on this link.
Types of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders, like anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder, are serious mental-illnesses that affect people of all races, religions, socioeconomic statuses, genders, ages, and geographic locations. Yet it is not enough to simply be educated on the various eating disorders. Instead, becoming informed on how eating disorders affect people and where help is sought can begin to make a positive change in how many people suffer from eating disorders in the future. Thanks to National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, this information is becoming more readily available and more widespread.
Eating Disorders Symptoms
A large part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is to increase the general public’s understanding about eating disorders and how they affect the people who struggle with them. For many, eating disorders become a way of “managing” and controlling a part of life when life seems out of control. Eating disorders are often accompanied by extreme emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. Some common symptoms (of all eating disorders) are changes in appearance, preoccupation with weight and body shape/size, hiding or sneaking food, decreased self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. Eating disorders have serious mental and physical symptoms, and ultimately, can be life-threatening. To find out more about specific eating disorders symptoms, click here.
Eating Disorders Treatment
Deciding to seek treatment for an eating disorder is a big step. And choosing the appropriate treatment is essential for sustained recovery. Thus, finding a program to meet one’s individual needs is important. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week HPA/LiveWell offers an intensive outpatient program consisting of a comprehensive approach. This means treatment includes a combination of individual, family, and group therapy, along with support from a dietitian.
If you think you might suffer from an eating disorder, take this confidential self-screening to find out more about your struggles. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it is important to seek help.
If you are in Albany or Poughkeepsie, NY, please click here to see treatment options available at HPA/LiveWell.
