You may see the hashtag #NEDAwareness trending this week. The hashtag stands for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, a movement that lasts from February 25 to March 3, which aims to combat society's beauty standards and promote self-acceptance.
The annual initiative was created by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), a nonprofit that offers programs and services to people experiencing eating disorders. This year, the organization aims to make conversations about eating disorders more inclusive by amplifying stories from people of marginalized communities. Online, they're promoting this theme through #ComeAsYouAre as well as #NEDAwareness.
"There is a stereotype that eating disorders only occur in thin, white, affluent women. Not only is that incredibly false, it is dangerous, too," Ryan Sheldon, an ambassador to NEDA, wrote in an email. Sheldon explains that more than 30 million(opens in a new tab) Americans will struggle with eating disorders at some point in their lives.
Organizers want to assure people experiencing eating disorders that they are not alone, said Lauren Smolar, the director of programs at NEDA. The group encourages people to take the Body Acceptance Challenge(opens in a new tab), a pledge to accept their bodies, respect others' bodies, and fight weight stigma.
"If we’re truly going to break the stigma that surrounds eating disorders, we need to show people that the spectrum of those affected is vast," Smolar wrote in an email.
When shared, the hashtags #NEDAwareness and #ComeAsYouAre can help spread awareness but it can also guide you to additional resources, like text hotlines and information about common types of eating disorders. Here are nine tweets to read, like, and share to understand more about the campaign and eating disorders in general.
1. Stories from people recovering from eating disorders
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2. Methods to support LGBTQ youth
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3. Apps, phone hotlines, and other services
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4. A reminder that you don't have to prove yourself on social media
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5. Information about who eating disorders affect
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6. Strategies to support your friends
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7. An inspirational body acceptance challenge
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8. Tools to spread awareness
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9. Resources on combatting stigma for men
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