There is a commonly held misconception that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are actually serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. Preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

There are resources available to help:

NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association): https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

-Call: 800-931-2237; Text: 800-931-2237

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Eating-Disorders/Support

-Call: 800-950- NAMI (6264); Email: info@nami.org for questions about finding support and resources

Body U (Self guided, educational program with tools to help designed to help you stay fit and healthy, manage stress and anxiety, improve your relationship to food and exercise): https://counselingcenter.missouristate.edu/Body_U.htm