6 Simple Ways to End Eating Disorder Stigma

As a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, I am always grateful to see others who are just as passionate about bringing awareness to the disorder as I am. Whether it be through sharing personal stories, posting articles to social media or becoming involved in organizations such as National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), the large strides I often see being made toward ending the stigma are admirable.

However, there are a variety of small steps we can take to effectively bring an end to eating disorder stigma and diet culture, many of which can easily be carried out on a daily basis. These steps require us to begin opposing anyone or anything that may promote or reinforce disordered thoughts around food, exercise, and body image.

1. If your friend tells you she needs to go to the gym to counteract pizza night last night, tell her that exercise should never be a punishment, and any and all food is OK in moderation.

2. Those magazines that give unrealistic depictions of what the “perfect” body looks like? Don’t buy them.

3. If friends make flippant comments about how they “wish” they had the willpower to have anorexia, tell them that similar to other medical conditions, eating disorders are not a choice.

4. That store that makes you feel as though your worth is based on the size of their clothing? Quit shopping there.

5. Start educating yourself on the difference between experts in the fields of fitness and nutrition, and “experts” who play or look the part.

6. Instead of praising our kids for their looks, let’s remind them how smart, funny, kind, helpful, brave and fun they are.

While these examples include seemingly small acts, it is these seemingly small acts that will eventually lead to the bigger picture of eradicating the stigma surrounding eating disorders, and the toxic diet culture that can lead to them.