On June 23, 2012 Marie and I attended the 2nd Annual Portland NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) Walk at Laurelhurst Park in NE Portland. It was rainy. It did actually stop raining when the walk began and before the end there were glimmers of sunshine. It was a great event to bring awareness to an all-too misunderstood thing: eating disorders.

I really didn’t know anything about eating disorders until a few years ago. I am still learning how anorexia and bulimia affect the lives of those struggling with them. I’m not writing as an expert, only as a loving husband who desires to support my wife in her recovery, and in her mission to help others who also struggle with eating disorders.

This video is a great example of how people struggling with anorexia see themselves.

The Mirror – Anorexia

This is a candid illustration of the body image distortions that are part of the disease. It is a serious illness that should not be overlooked. Here are some statistics:

• It is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder – seven million women and one million men.
• One in 200 American women suffers from anorexia.
• Two to three in 100 American women suffers from bulimia.
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
• A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5 -10% of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease; 18 – 20% of anorexics will be dead after 20 years and only 30 – 40% ever fully recover.
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15 – 24 years old.
• 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems.
• Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment.
• About 80% of the girls/women who have accessed care for their eating disorders do not get the intensity of treatment they need to stay in recovery, they are often sent home weeks earlier than the recommended stay.
• Treatment of an eating disorder in the US ranges from $500 per day to $2,000 per day. The average cost for a month of inpatient treatment is $30,000. It is estimated that individuals with eating disorders need anywhere from 3-6 months of inpatient care.  Health insurance companies for several reasons do not typically cover the cost of treating eating disorders.
• The cost of outpatient treatment, including therapy and medical monitoring, can extend to $100,000 or more.
• 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.
• 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight.
• 80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight.

As you can see from these statistics eating disorders effect a heck of a lot of people directly and indirectly. There are many causes of eating disorders, and they often occur with other mental illnesses, like depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. My goal is not to pontificate on all the dynamics of the disorder, only to bring awareness. I challenge you to do a bit of research, a little reading, pay attention and talk about it! The more people talk about eating disorders, not just anorexia and bulimia, but binge eating as well, the less power they have. Eating disorders thrive on secrecy and shame. By talking, whether by admitting one’s own struggle, or confronting a loved one, the secret is exposed. The problem must be acknowledged and named before a solution can even be sought. Watch for signs that friends or family may be struggling with an eating disorder, take it seriously and talk about it.

Signs that someone may have an eating disorder:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anorexia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm

Here is a fun video that I created of the NEDA walk. It is a down and dirty video shot with my iPhone. Hope you like it.

Marie wrote this as part of a letter thanking those who supported us in the walk.

Participating in the walk was important to me. I believe in NEDA’s mission: to raise awareness about eating disorders, provide education and prevention programs, and to provide affordable treatment (residential and outpatient) for those who need it. Anorexia is the most deadly of mental illnesses, killing between 5% and 20% of its victims. This statistic deals only with mortality – other losses from the disease are innumerable. The emotional and financial costs for those who live with it, and even those who recover, are profound. In my ten year struggle with anorexia, I have had some success at living in recovery, and I have had some scary, dangerous times, and many, many months of trying to find the line between being healthy and succumbing to the disease. The love and support of my friends and family have saved my life. Thank you!! You make the difference between the pursuit of recovery, which is possible, and embracing the perceived comfort of the eating disorder.

For more information check out the following links:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anorexia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm#what

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Cheers!