Eating disorders affect a large amount of people. In American society and all over the world. When you say “eating disorder” you most likely think of anorexia or bulimia. Both are very serious disorders, but the most common eating disorders are commonly overlooked ones: compulsive over-eating and binge eating disorder. Both involve the excessive consumption of food, and are often used interchangeably.
For many people, realizing you have a problem is a large step. Deciding to seek help is another one. But many people with “lesser” eating disorders are usually denied the help they need. Many people fail to realize that ALL eating disorders are dangerous. Eating disorder sufferers are refused help because they aren’t emaciated and starved or near death. People are told they aren’t “sick enough” and are turned away. Some sufferers in the early stages of anorexia are told to “just eat”. Some bulimics are told to “just stop”. People with compulsive over-eating and binge eating disorder are told to stop being so greedy. Those with ED-NOS or eating disorder not otherwise specified are told they are not sick at all and just looking for attention. Everyone who bears the weight of an eating disorder on their backs is suffering from a mental illness. A mental illness with physical symptoms. No matter how small or insignificant their physical symptoms seem, all of the eating disordered community deserve an equal chance at treatment and recovery. An eating disorder treated early is better than one left to destroy one’s body beyond repair until it is too late.
It is a wonderful thing when someone with an eating disorder chooses recovery. It is a shame when they are denied what they desperately need because they do not exactly fit criteria or arent so sick to the point of death. Everyone with an eating disorder is at risk for physical and emotional damage, even during the early stages of an eating disorder. We must learn to realize that eating disorders are serious no matter what type or what stage the disorder is. Just looking at someone’s weight will not tell you what an eating disorder is doing to a person, or how much it affects them. Please do not let the eating disordered be denied the help they need any longer. Do not refuse them treatment and recovery until it is too late. Everyone deserves a chance to live happy.