Reflecting on Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Why the Conversation Must Continue

As Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 24th-March 2nd) has come to a close, it’s important to remind ourselves that the conversation should not end here. The importance of understanding, supporting, and fighting stigma surrounding eating disorders cannot be reserved for one week.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) serves as a useful platform to raise awareness about the complexities of eating disorders. The week is not just about increasing information, but also about fostering compassion and breaking down the harmful stigmas surrounding these mental health conditions. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that eating disorders only affect a specific group of people. There’s still a fairly common misconception that eating disorders solely affect adolescent women and that they only involve starvation or restriction of food intake and severe weight loss. But the reality is far more complex. Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, or background. The statistics are staggering: millions of people worldwide suffer from conditions that include not just anorexia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID and other disordered eating habits are also widespread and involve a laundry list of disordered behaviors that are not always food restriction or low body weight.

In today’s digital age, social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have become go-to sources for information on nearly every topic. However, when it comes to eating disorders, social media can often be misleading and dangerous. While these platforms can offer a sense of community and connection, they may also promote harmful content, including dangerous dieting tips, harmful body image ideals, and incorrect portrayals of eating disorders. On TikTok, for example, trends related to “clean eating,” extreme fitness regimens, or weight loss hacks can be easily shared and gain popularity without being properly fact-checked or guided by medical professionals. Even more benign posts like, “What I Eat in a Day” videos can be misconstrued and problematic. These posts are not always a reliable or healthy source of information on eating disorders and recovery. It's important to remember that eating disorders are complex, multifaceted mental health conditions that require evidence-based treatment and professional guidance. The opinions and advice shared online, regardless of how popular or widely circulated, should never replace professional help. Professionals are licensed and credentialed individuals with proper training—and this does not typically include health coaches or influencers who simply have attractive content and a lot of followers.

As Eating Disorders Awareness Week wraps up, let’s remember that awareness is just the first step. The work doesn’t end when the week is over. We must continue to advocate for better mental health resources, create a culture that embraces body diversity, and support those in recovery. We need to keep the conversation open, make accurate and science-backed resources more accessible, and fight against the stigma that still surrounds eating disorders.

Healing is possible, and no one should have to face their struggles alone. Let’s keep the conversation going every day.