How much time do you have left here?

By “here,” I mean on Earth.  

Don’t be alarmed. 

I am simply asking you this in existential kind of way, a way that I hope will make you realize that the greatest gift you and I both have is time. 

Think about it. 

We each have only a certain amount of time here on earth. A certain amount of time to live out our best lives, to find out who we were created to be, and to tap into the beautiful gifts bestowed upon us to positively impact the lives around us and the greater world.

Channel your inner champion, face your fears, and raise some money for a great cause! This January, we’re calling upon YOU to join The Fearless Challenge, a NEDA initiative in which we call upon participants to choose a fear and an activity to overcome that fear. Once you meet your personal fundraising goal, you face your fear. 

Leave those diet ads in the dust and face your fears this New Year! We’re making it possible to channel your inner champion, face your fears, and raise some money to support NEDA’s life-changing programs and services.

Join The Fearless Challenge, a NEDA initiative in which we call upon participants to choose a fear and an activity to overcome that fear.

Last month, the Hemendinger family of Amity Harbor, NY successfully reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Together, as a family, they completed the 10 day journey of the highest free standing mountain in the world at 19,341 feet. The 91 mile round trip journey consisted of daily hiking through five different climate zones of Kilimanjaro including a Rain Forest, an Alpine Desert, and the Arctic Summit. 

Eating disorders kill. Eating disorders are a public health crisis. Considered the deadliest mental illness, an estimated 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

Content note: Potentially triggering language and descriptions of eating disordered behaviors

We’re working hard to get more money allocated for eating disorders research, but we need your help.

A letter asking for $10 million in funding is circulating around the House of Representatives right now and we need to get YOUR representative's name on it by the end of the day on Friday, March 31.

Most eating disorder sufferers would agree that even once recovery begins, the act of being around food can still be especially distressing. The treatment and recovery process becomes even more difficult when others assume that because you’re eating and cooking now, then everything is okay. The truth is that recovery is a lifelong journey, and circumstances will change periodically.

You’re waiting in line at the supermarket check-out when you’re greeted by the glossy, airbrushed, Photoshopped likeness of your favorite celebrity. Those tanned, lean legs and those sculpted cheekbones staring back at you seem to burrow into your soul. You begin to second-guess the items in your shopping basket as thoughts of food and body image trample through your headspace.

The study and treatment of eating disorders is woefully lacking, especially for men. The majority of Americans think this is a woman’s disease, but statistics show that 10 million men in the United States will suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. 

June 2nd, 2016 will mark the very first World Eating Disorders Action Day. While different countries and organizations have long had awareness weeks (such as NEDAwareness week and the Canadian Eating Disorders Awareness Week), this is the first time eating disorders are getting global attention. In fact, the whole day has been developed by grassroots advocacy efforts of over 150 organizations in over 40 countries.