This week is Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week (BIEDAW) from 4 - 10 September 2023. It's a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness for these mental illnesses which are extremely dangerous and deadly conditions if left untreated.
BIEDAW is something which is very close to my heart because of my own experience with an eating disorder and various body image struggles throughout my life.
Why is BIEDAW significant to me?
After having struggled with an eating disorder for 12+ years, I am very passionate about helping and educating others on the dangers and risks of negative body image and having an eating disorder. Eating disorders can be very isolating and all-consuming, and this has the propensity to cause a sufferer to withdraw from their family, friends and support networks. I am very passionate about using my own experiences and insights to help other sufferers and their families, as well as to help educate the general population about eating disorders, body image and the dangers and risks of diet culture and the role it plays in all of our lives.
I am committed to helping change the narrative and story around body image and eating disorders so that there is a greater understanding of the risks and symptoms of eating disorders in society. Sometimes just having a conversation with someone about what's going on in their life can be a big step towards helping someone feel supported and seen.
My eating disorder and body image struggles went far beyond vanity and weight. There was so much more to them that people did not understand. And I don't blame them. It is hard to understand something that you have never experienced, so I do not hold their understanding or reaction against them. But at the time when I was going through what I went through, I felt so alone, so misunderstood and so invisible. It was as if because I wasn't "thin enough" that what I was going through wasn't legitimate or valid, and that is was just "all in my head" and something I was "making up to get attention". And unfortunately, this last attitude is one that a lot of people seem to have towards people who have an eating disorder or who are struggling with their body image.
I can assure you that when I was struggling with my eating disorder, my battle was not simply about "getting more attention" or vanity, it was a coping mechanism for me to deal with other things that were going on in my life at the time. It was my way of re-gaining a sense of control over my life when there were things that I had no control over. It was not something that I just decided I wanted to have one day because I thought it would get me more attention. It was something that followed everywhere, even when I didn't want it to. It would keep me awake at night, keep me from fuelling my body, stopped me from going out with my friends, kept me from enjoying many delicious meals with family and friends. It also caused me to need regular medical appointments, extensive psychological treatment, dental work, physiotherapy for injuries caused from over-exercising.
Now think about it, what about that sounds good or fun?! Nothing. Absolutely nothing I can definitely tell you that much. And yes, the silver lining to my eating disorder is that I have learnt the things that I have now, but I promise you, I would not wish an eating disorder upon anyone. And it frustrates me so much (and makes me very sad) when I hear people joking about wishing they had an eating disorder so they could "lose weight quickly".
Firstly, let's get this clear: An eating disorder is not a "lose-weight-quick" scheme. It so much more complex, dangerous and scary than that. This week is a great opportunity ato educate yourself on eating disorders and body image so that you can learn more about the risks they pose and the ways that you can help change the narrative and flip the script on what you've been told by diet culture.
The time is now to change these stories, the body image and eating disorder crisis is only getting worse, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.
Why we need to talk about this?
Eating disorders are the most fatal mental illnesses and they are so prolific in society across all cultures and genders, and it's time that we shone a light on them. Beyond this, the way society views body image in general really needs to be examined to see where we can improve messaging and initiatives which aim to improve and cultivate a healthy body image. Diet culture has fed you lies for years about the body you "need" in order to be worthy, and this messaging needs to change. There is no specific body that you need to achieve in order to be enough, you are already enough. But this type of messaging can be extremely damaging, especially for young people who are very vulnerable to such marketing and messaging.
Eating disorders are insidious and they have the ability to slowly eat away at your sense of self and entire life. Younger and younger people are becoming more conscious of their bodies and more worried about their weight and why their body doesn't look like someone else's body that they have seen on social media. It's a concern because often these young people (usually children and adolescents) don't understand the role that photoshop and airbrushing has on a photo, and this can be super dangerous for their minds as to what is appropriate, healthy and achievable for them.
Changes I would like to see:
- Greater education and awareness around body image and eating disorders.
- Shifts in attitudes towards different bodies and body types.
- Weight loss being removed as a success marker for health.
- Improved education around nutrition and calling out of diet culture and dangerous myths.
- Greater access to post-recovery programs to assist with the "re-build" phase of a person's life after they have had an eating disorder or struggled with their body image.
What challenges are we facing currently?
- There is a big gap between the services which are offered and the needs of the person suffering from the eating disorder and their families and support networks.
- People are not educated around risks and the early signs of eating disorder behaviours and these are often overlooked.
- Social media is so easy to consume and there are a lot of people out there claiming to be "experts" and sharing unhealthy fads/diets/weight loss schemes/"health" plans which can be dangerous and damaging for people's mental health and body image
Let's change the narrative and flip the script on what we've been told about our bodies and our worth! You are so much more than a body, but equally your body is so worthy and enough.
I'd love for you to share your stories and experiences with me - I am so passionate about this work and helping society to understand why it's important to talk about eating disorders and body image, as well as breaking down the myths told to us by diet culture and the weight loss industry.
Keep showing up for you gorgeous!
J xx