Welcome to National Eating Disorders Association Awareness Week, Feb 20-26th 2011. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is encouraging you to do just one thing this week to support eating disorder research and recovery. Here are five ideas.
1) Forward. Pass along a positive body image message or a video by a family who has been impacted by an eating disorder.
2) Learn. Just check out the NEDA website. Find out more about this organization which helps people find treatment and supports research or Harriet Brown's organization on body image.
3) Walk. Sign up for a NEDA walk. Put on your tennis shoes for a great fund raiser. Or, attend a NEDA event in your area.
4) Operation Beautiful. The mission of this organization is to leave positive, encouraging notes about body image in public places like bathroom mirrors. For a few examples, see Operation Beautiful.
5) Tweet & Facebook. Post something in support of NEDA week or "Like" the NEDA facebook page or send a supportive message to a friend.
11 million people struggle with eating disorders. It's likely that you or someone you care about has been impacted by eating issues. Individuals who have eating disorders are also often diagnosed with other mental health issues like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. For more statistics on eating disorders see the facts. As the theme of this year's NEDA week suggests, "It's Time to Talk About It." Stay tuned for more eating disorder facts to be posted this week.
Susan Albers, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in eating issues, weight loss, body image concerns, and mindfulness. She is the author of "50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food, Eating Mindfully, Eat, Drink, and Be Mindful, and Mindful Eating 101" and is a Huffington Post blogger. Her books have been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, O, the Oprah Magazine, Natural Health, Self Magazine and on the Dr. Oz T.V. show. Visit Albers online at http://www.eatingmindfully.com