Tell the Fashion Industry It’s Time to Prioritize Health and Diversity!

New research published today in the International Journal of Eating Disorders confirms what we’ve all known for years – models are being pressured to lose weight or change their body shape/size, and as a result, disordered eating and full-blown eating disorders are rife in the industry. Pressure to conform to the ultra-thin beauty ideal hurts […]

5 Ways to Self-Care During Difficult Times

I have a confession to make: I despise checking the news. It seems like every time I turn on the TV or radio, or log on to social media, there is another act of violence, hate, or terror being reported, not only in our country, but around the entire world. Sometimes, I wish I could […]

Getting Through a Breakup When You Have an Eating Disorder

There’s no denying that breakups are always hard. It can take months—even years—to completely heal and be ready to move on. When you have an eating disorder (ED), it can be even harder. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with negativity and self-doubt, which can trigger your ED behaviors in order to cope. But there are […]

NEDA Walks: Maximizing Your Impact

If you are looking to be a part of something special in 2017, then join us for a NEDA Walk near you. NEDA Walks are coming to over 40 cities this spring and we can’t wait to meet you there. This year, we’re walking to inspire others. We’re walking away from stigma to send the […]

The Healing Touch

Growing up with anorexia, I came close to losing my life. Several times. I remember the first time my eating disordered thoughts began. I was seven. I am blessed with an amazingly loving family. But even so, something in my brain told these me thoughts shouldn’t be shared. That they were true, they were mine, […]

Dear KJ: How Can I Talk to My Parents About Getting Treatment?

“Dear KJ” is a monthly advice column by Dr. Kjerstin “KJ” Gruys, sociologist, author and body image activist. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology with a focus on the politics of appearance and is the author of Mirror Mirror Off the Wall: How I Learned to Love My Body By Not Looking at It for […]

What Our Children’s Eating Disorders Meant for Our Parenting

For many years, the reality we lived in was one of fear; fear that ED would take the lives of our daughters. Would they be alive at Christmas or their next birthdays? As morose as that sounds, that is the reality of being parents or family members of someone with an eating disorder. We were […]

Society Must Stop Fearing Fat

A picture is worth a thousand words, but what about the words themselves? For people who have struggled with an eating disorder, words can play a huge role in whether or not they engage in ED behaviors. Words and language are such critical elements of our relationships and interactions, and it sucks when they continually […]

You Don’t Have to Be What You See on Social Media

Social media has such a defining impact on our society, despite only increasing in popularity within the past few years. This is particularly true when it comes to young adults and eating disorders. A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine revealed that young adults who use social media a lot are […]

The Power of Self-Care

After tossing and turning all night, the sun will smile through the window to welcome us to a new day – calling for a fresh start. Every day and every moment, we are presented with a new opportunity to start again. We are able to start again from the mistakes we may have made, the […]