February 25, 2019 kicks off National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This year’s theme is Come as You Are. More information can be found at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-involved/nedawareness.
It’s easy to get caught up in the latest dieting fads, especially when we are inundated from every direction—from magazine covers to social media and even billboards when we’re driving to work. While it’s good to remember that these images are curated and doctored to achieve a certain look, it’s easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there’s a strong correlation between the amount of time spent on social media and the likelihood that an eating disorder will develop.
If you notice yourself becoming preoccupied with food and dieting, and you’re sacrificing your health to achieve a certain look or body size, consider that you might have an unhealthy relationship with food.
If you’re trying to eat healthy, great! Make sure you’re meeting all the necessary nutritional requirements to fuel your body each day. It’s possible to lose weight in healthy and unhealthy ways, so if you want to shrink a size or two, make sure you’re doing it with the goal of health as your primary focus.
Find ways to feel good about yourself that improve your self esteem in the process. Take a break from social media if necessary, and spend time with people who care about you.
If you are in need of additional support, call your BHS Care Coordinator at 800-245-1150.