- Calls to this hotline are currently being directed to Within Health or Eating Disorder Solutions
- Representatives are standing by 24/7 to help answer your questions
- All calls are confidential and HIPAA compliant
- There is no obligation or cost to call
- Eating Disorder Hope does not receive any commissions or fees dependent upon which provider you select
- Additional treatment providers are located on our directory or samhsa.gov
Awareness, Prevention, and Early Intervention for Anorexia Nervosa
Contributor: Courtney Howard, BA, writer for Eating Disorder Hope
There are many misconceptions about anorexia nervosa that can prevent people from getting the help they need and deserve. Raising awareness on the realities of anorexia nervosa and exploring prevention strategies has the potential to save lives.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) reports that anorexia nervosa has a 5 to 20 percent mortality rate, dependent on how long an individual has been sick. This highlights the importance of early intervention techniques for those struggling.
Raising Awareness is the First Step
It is difficult for many people to understand eating disorders. This is no one’s fault, as eating disorders are complex and there is a wide range of misinformation on what they are and why they develop. The general public would benefit greatly from education on anorexia nervosa and who is most at risk, such as individuals with anxiety, depression, or a history of personal trauma.
Eating disorders typically first present in childhood or adolescence, so this awareness can begin in the schools. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic condition in adolescent children nationwide.
Making sure educators and parents are informed on anorexia nervosa and what signs to look for can reduce the likelihood of adolescent cases going undiagnosed and untreated.
Taking Steps to Prevent Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can result from various contributing factors, often the perfect storm of biological, psychological, and social triggers. Eradicating anorexia nervosa entirely might not be realistic, but reducing its prevalence by changing the way we talk about food and body image is definitely possible.
Often, eating disorder treatment is the first time individuals learn about positive food talk, reframing how food is viewed, and what self-care truly means. If these principles were more ingrained in the public’s regular dialogue instead of body shaming and negative food talk, it could potentially reduce the rate of eating disorders nationwide.
A new bill was introduced to Congress in December 2015 as an amendment to the Public Health Services Act with the hopes of launching a three-year pilot program on eating disorder prevention and early diagnosis. This legislation, entitled the Educating to Prevent Eating Disorders Act of 2015 (H.R. 4153), would give grants to middle schools to provide eating disorder screenings and education.
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, who introduced the bill, explains, “Through my experience as a nurse, I recognize and have witnessed the serious implications that stem from eating disorders. These disorders impact a person’s emotional and physical health, so it is all the more important that we put an evidence-based program in place to better understand the early warning signs of this disease.”
Early Intervention is Possible
Fighting the stigma and raising awareness are pieces of the puzzle when it comes to the way we approach eating disorder treatment and recovery, but having resources in place to help people in the early stages of their disorders is vital to the cause. Early intervention is an individual’s best chance at long-term recovery and health, both mentally and physically.
It is common for people to think an individual’s anorexia nervosa is not serious unless there is dramatic weight loss to the point of emaciation. However, if disordered thoughts and behaviors regarding food and/or body image are displayed in children and teens, professional help is recommended immediately.
Just as substance abuse is often used to numb or relieve anxiety, so are disordered food behaviors. Parents, teachers, and friends are encouraged to take them just as seriously.
Often, insurance companies only provide coverage for anorexia nervosa treatment if an individual is below a certain body mass index (BMI) and meets other specific and ever-changing criteria. In this sense, it can be challenging to obtain coverage for eating disorders. Seeking outpatient care versus inpatient or partial hospitalization is often the first step if an individual is in the beginning stages of anorexia nervosa. If the patient’s condition does not improve, a higher level of care might be needed.
How You Can Help
There are ways you can help make a difference by reducing the stigma surrounding anorexia nervosa and supporting legislation that looks to prevent eating disorders and provide resources for those struggling. On a more basic level, if people begin spreading positive messages about food and body image, it can start to make a dent in the disordered way society often views both.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
In what ways have you spread positive images and messages about food and body? If you haven’t started yet, what ways are you considering now?
About the Author: Courtney Howard is a Certified Life Coach specializing in eating disorders through Lionheart Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching. As a content writer at the Sovereign Health Group while writing freelance through Eating Disorder Hope, Courtney is a passionate advocate for recovery and works to fight the stigma surrounding all mental health disorders. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from San Diego State University, holds a paralegal certificate in Family Law, and is a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on February 16, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
