For more than 65 years, May has been observed as National Mental Health Awareness Month by organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA). Of course mental health is important all year-round, but emphasizing these issues in May gives us the chance to come together to show our support and efforts for those who suffer from mental disorders and illnesses.

NEDA has long been involved in supporting patients with a range of eating disorders. However, one area that has received less attention in the past is Binge Eating Disorder (B.E.D.). B.E.D. affects an estimated 2.8 million US adults, based on a national survey, and is more prevalent than anorexia and bulimia combined. [1,2] *

Family members play an integral role in supporting their love one's recovery. During the Friends & Family Kick-Off Dinner to open the NEDA Conference last week in San Antonio, TX, this idea was thoroughly explored through a "Friends & Family" panel discussion.

The event was emceed Thomas P. Britton, DrPH, LPC, LCAS, ACS, CCS  from CRC Health Group and the panel was moderated by NEDA Ambassador and author, Jenni Schaefer, and featured individuals in support and treatment roles:

The National Eating Disorders Association, in association with feminist activist and editor of Everyday Feminism, Melissa Fabello, is calling for stories that focus on underrepresented experiences and communities in the eating disorder field through The Marginalized Voices Project. We are looking especially for voices from marginalized communities and narratives that challenge eating disorder myths.

Pick up any eating disorder memoir at your local bookstore, and you are more than likely to find some iteration of this narrative arc.

Well-to-do, young white woman develops an eating disorder, spirals into near-oblivion, seeks treatment for her eating disorder (which usually results in her being admitted into a residential facility), experiences a myriad of successes and failures, and eventually commits to finding her Self again. Well-to-do, young white woman walks out of treatment with a new sense of hope on the road to recovery.

The recent developments surrounding the firing of Oakland University women’s basketball coach, Beckie Francis, highlight the immense influence coaches have on their athletes and underscore the importance of eating disorders awareness in the athletic community.

This week, CNN reported on a recent proposal that airlines charge passengers based on their body weight in order to reduce fuel cost. The proposals were conceived by economist Dr. Bharat P. Bhatta, associate professor of economics at Sogn og Fjordane University College, Norway and recently published in the Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management.

Three “pay-as-you-weigh” models being suggested are calculated on total weight, including:

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and The Model Alliance (MA), a non-profit dedicated to improving working conditions in the American fashion industry, co-hosted the panel event, Inside The Modeling Industry: A Conversation About Health & Beauty In Fashion at Pace University for 2013 NEDAwareness Week. MA founder, Sara Ziff, moderated the panel discussion which featured models Crystal Renn, Katharine Schuette and Amy Lemons, modeling agent Chris Gay, eating disorder specialist Dr.