Mental health does not discriminate and eating disorders are not the exception. Regardless of an individual’s body shape, gender identity, weight, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion, eating disorders can impact anyone. According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), “9% of the US population, or 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Less than 6% of people with eating disorders are medically underweight. 1 person dies every 52 minutes from an eating disorder.” Society has manufactured unrealistic beauty standards, fostering harmful narratives that have resulted in countless tragedies nationwide.
Eating disorders remain one of the least understood and one of the most stigmatized mental health conditions. While millions struggle, many suffer in silence, afraid to seek help due to fear of judgment or misunderstanding. While warning signs can vary and look different for everyone, there are still things you can do to help and signs to look out for if you or someone you know may be struggling with an eating disorder.
To help raise awareness on campus, a student at Bloomsburg has decided to take the initiative to host a series of events to attempt to raise awareness during National Eating Disorder Awareness week. Gil Rathman shared that their inspiration behind organizing the important events was planted in a public speaking class they took last semester with Dr. Miller. After being asked to pick a “significant social problem of their choice” to speak about during the course, Rathman felt compelled to choose eating disorders. After witnessing numerous loved ones struggle with overcoming eating disorders, the topic seemed like the natural choice to raise awareness for.
They also shared that while doing research for their class, “I realized Bloomsburg had almost no education or resources about eating disorder prevention available for students” and they sought to change that. They said they hope attendees walk away from their program understanding the warning signs of eating disorders, the importance of body positivity, and available resources to receive support if needed.
Many people aren’t aware of the warning signs and don’t know what to look for, in loved ones and in themselves. They can look different for everyone and if you or someone you know may be struggling with eating disorders, please reach out for help and know that you are not alone. The NEDA lists these warning signs of a few different eating disorders. Eating disorders can cause an internal hyperfixation on food, dieting, tracking calories and logging foods, and weight gain or loss. Eating disorders can also result in tendencies to skip meals or overeat.
Socially withdrawing is another warning sign to look out for, as well as isolating and becoming secretive of eating habits and behaviors. According to NEDA, another warning sign is, “Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance.” It isn’t always black and white and this is why it is crucial to seek help if you believe you are struggling. There is nothing wrong in asking for help. Your looks do not define you. For generations, we have been forced to have preconceived notions of what beauty is. Somewhere along the line, the majority stopped focusing on a person’s heart and only cared about the person on the outside, their shell.
This is one of the many reasons why it is crucial to raise awareness, especially during this transitional period. Gil shared their perspective on why raising awareness is crucial during this impactful period in time, saying, “Societal pressures, such as the infamous “Freshman 15″ create negative stereotypes for college students, encouraging them to lose weight and create unhealthy relationships with food. By raising awareness and educating students on the importance of eating disorder prevention, Bloomsburg can help its students create healthy habits, to lead a safe and mindful life!”
Social media has negatively impacted self-perception, promoting unrealistic and unhealthy standards. Videos often dictate what the “perfect” partner should look like, how individuals should present themselves, and what routines they should follow. These trends frequently encourage restrictive eating, excessive exercise, and other harmful behaviors, consistently forcing harmful narratives across all platforms.
There is a theory that humans were never meant to perceive themselves so frequently. Constantly viewing ourselves through phone cameras and mirrors can become disorienting and distort our realistic self-image. Each person perceives others differently, regardless of appearance, thoughts, or actions. Historically, before the invention of mirrors, people primarily saw their reflections in natural elements such as still bodies of water and natural surfaces, like metal. The development of mirrors has significantly influenced identity and self-awareness. Understanding how external influences impact our relationship with food and body image is crucial in addressing eating disorders in society.
Gil also planned to address the common misconceptions at their events, “There is a major misconception in society that eating disorders only affect straight white women when that is not at all the case. Men, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are all susceptible to eating disorders. Eating disorders are not a choice or something that can simply “go away” with time. It takes a lot of treatment and support to reach recovery. Lastly, eating disorders manifest themselves in many different ways. Although there is a list of common warning signs, that list is not all-inclusive.”
For further resources, please reach out to the counseling center located on campus and visit the website for the National Eating Disorders Association. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to seek help—you are not alone. You deserve support. You matter. You are important. You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.
Together, we can make the world a kinder and safer place. It starts here. It starts with us.
