A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

What is ARFID? Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by food avoidance or restriction that results in nutritional deficiencies and interferes with daily functioning. As with anorexia nervosa, ARFID can lead to significant weight loss or a failure to gain weight. It does not include concerns about body weight and shape, however. Instead, ARFID primarily manifests…

Eating disorders are serious and complex health issues with a wide variety of formidable health impacts. For those with more intense cases of an eating disorder, or for those struggling with other health conditions that cause malnourishment, a procedure called refeeding may be necessary for recovery. Refeeding syndrome is a dangerous and underestimated problem associated with refeeding. This article will…

For many years, I didn’t know if the destruction I had inflicted on my body in the form of bulimia nervosa would ruin my chances of getting pregnant one day. I had been diagnosed with PCOS and infertility. Then, on Mother’s Day weekend in 2023, I took a pregnancy test and found out I was pregnant. I was filled with…

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is defined as a mental health condition in which a person is preoccupied with one or more perceived defects or flaws in their physical appearance that are not noticeable or appear minor to others. These perceived flaws can cause significant distress and can lead to impaired social, occupational, and other areas…

Eating disorders are common, treatable conditions that affect people in many different ways. Living with an eating disorder can make everyday activities and normal routines challenging. Some eating disorders can disrupt even necessary activities like sleep. This article will explore sleep-related eating disorders, their causes and symptoms, and how to find help.   What Is an Eating Disorder?  An eating disorder…

Weight stigma affects all of us, including young children who can experience this in the form of name-calling, cyberbullying, and physical harm. To support kids, parents first need to address their own biases about weight and body size, then speak positively about food to help children develop a positive relationship with food and their bodies. Normalize body diversity by discussing…

Stereotypes based on weight, shape, and size run rampant in our modern society and help inform weight stigma, a dangerous attitude that can lead to very real mental, physical, and emotional complications. Events like Weight Stigma Awareness Week work to help people understand the truth about weight, shape, size, and inherent worth, and can help someone let go of these…

September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about suicide and fostering open dialogue on a subject that can be challenging to discuss. This month is an opportunity to engage in and encourage conversations about the importance of mental health, suicide prevention, and the need for comprehensive support. Discussions about suicide prevention often center…

Lauren Gerber says she always considered herself to be a fairly obsessive person. But she never identified as someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental illness characterized by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. She was also never formally diagnosed with the condition—until 15 years after she’d recovered from her eating disorder. Her story is unique,…

Our society continues to perpetuate the myth that eating disorders are an issue primarily affecting young, thin white women. While research on eating disorders in marginalized groups has improved, our society has a long way to go to truly understand the scope of eating disorders within underserved populations. For example, though rates of binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa in…