Cultivating a Culture of Body Acceptance within the Fitness Industry

Supporting someone with an eating disorder is challenging. I know, because I struggled with an eating disorder for many years in my late teens and early twenties. My road to recovery was long, and almost thirty years later, I still have times where my eating disorder brain wants to take charge. At the beginning of […]

Hope, Strength, & Real-Life Recovery <3

Hey NEDA Fam! I’m Jenny (she/her/hers)! I am a NEDA Walk Coordinator, a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, a Recovery Coach, a Case Manager, a Behavioral Health Technician, and a mental health advocate. I am a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a niece, a granddaughter, a friend, and a peer. I am also in recovery […]

College student finds healing, silver linings during eating disorder journey

In March of 2020, when the pandemic caused the closure of businesses, schools and activities, my daughter Maureen was a junior in high school. School became virtual and the dance classes she loved disappeared. But instead of curling up in a ball and crying about it, Maureen found activities to use her time productively. She […]

What Does It Take to Become an Eating Disorder Therapist

As a former ballerina who had a family history of eating disorders, I was exposed to the importance of a healthy relationship with food and my body from a young age. At 16, I was reading the book Eating Disorders for Dummies in the dressing room of my ballet studio. That same year, I signed […]

Barrier to Treatment

Diversity, body positivity, and inclusion have become priorities for many of our favorite brands, and are major themes in messages from our admired celebrities and influencers, all in an effort to make people feel included with a sense of belonging. It’s amazing to see this sense of inclusion in many areas of society today, yet […]

Aerie x NEDA Campus Warriors: Making Change on College Campuses

The Aerie Real Foundation™ works to build confidence in women, foster an inclusive community, and protect our planet to make the world a better place for all. We’re awarding our first $100,000 Aerie Real Change Signature Grant to NEDA Campus Warriors! Aerie is a proud supporter of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). We’ve been […]

The Autistic Anorexic: An Unexpected Divergence on Recovery Road

“I must say, Ryan, you present one of the more interesting cases of Autism I’ve ever studied.” “Autism?!” I parroted the passive diagnosis back to my evaluator. Did he just call me autistic? I thought, as I looked towards, though not into, his wrinkle-lined eyes. Rarely did I look into anyone’s eyes, the emotions that […]

Welcome to the 39th Eating Disorders Awareness Week!

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) was launched in Columbus, Ohio in 1984 by the National Anorexic Aid Society to coincide with our 3rd National Eating Disorder Conference. Our first theme was “Be the person you are; It’s what’s inside that counts”. Our goal was to educate health and mental health professionals, schools, colleges and the […]

My One Woman Army

If it wasn’t for my support system, my eating disorder would have devoured me. I had just started college, was so caught up in my quest for thinness, so desperate to succeed, to make my body as small as possible, that I couldn’t acknowledge that there might be a problem with the punishing methods I […]

My eating disorder taught me so much

May, 2009. “I am worried about you…you are disappearing before my eyes, and I am losing my friend Anne. I can’t see her anymore; and I am sad.  I really want her back. I love you and I am here, caring about you”…Love P I had no idea what this note was all about. I […]