25th Feb to 3rd March: Eating Disorders Awareness Week

25^th February to 3^rd March marks 2019’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The awareness week is an international event, fighting the myths and misunderstandings that surround anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS.

The charity Beat commissioned a YouGov poll to find out more about perceptions of eating disorders, they found that:

• 39% of adults in the UK mistakenly believe eating disorders more commonly affect white people.
• Six out of ten UK adults mistakenly believe eating disorders mainly affect young people.
• 37% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people say they would not feel confident seeking help about eating disorders from healthcare professionals compared to 24% of straight people.
• Only 52% of people from minority ethnicities would feel confident asking for help about eating disorders from healthcare professionals – compared to 64% of white British people.

For this year’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week, they are spotlighting stories that have been submitted to show that these disorders can affect anyone, to try and break the stigma surrounding eating disorders, as well as fundraise so help them continue their support service that they offer.

To get involved with their Sock it to Eating Disorders campaign, or to help them reach their target of £35,000, find them at: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/