National Eating Disorder Awareness Week raises awareness, empathy, and support for anyone impacted by eating disorders. This annual campaign started in Columbus, Ohio, in 1984 and is very much still needed today; the National Eating Disorders Association website states, “Eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate among mental health conditions, with one person dying from an eating disorder every 52 minutes.”
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week typically occurs during the last week of February each year. In 2025, it will run from February 24 to March 2. This blog post will explain more about National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, its importance, and how you can support it, no matter where you live.
Who Organizes National Eating Disorder Awareness Week?
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is one of the primary organizations behind National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. NEDA is a large nonprofit that supports people and their families who are affected by eating disorders. Their website includes many educational resources, links to find treatment and get screened, and ways to get involved in National Eating Disorder Awareness Week or in other initiatives, such as their “Campus Warriors,” effort that raises awareness about eating disorders on college and university campuses across the U.S.
NEDA’s theme for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week in 2025 is “The Time is Now.” Their goals for this campaign are “sharing knowledge and resources, encouraging early detection and treatment, and supporting ongoing research.”
Another organization that champions National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is the Office on Women’s Health (OWH). OWH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was established in 1991. OWH’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week theme in 2025 is “Break the Silence, Embrace Recovery: Addressing Eating Disorders in Midlife.” They chose to focus on women in their “40s, 50s, and beyond” who are often overlooked, as women in this age group face many challenges when it comes to body image, including societal pressure and changes in hormones. All of these factors contribute to increased risk for eating disorders.
Why Is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Important?
Almost 30 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, with women nearly five times more likely to be diagnosed than men. Examples of common eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa. These are serious mental health and physical health conditions, so raising awareness can help in many, many ways. Here are six:
- Helps educate people about the dangers of eating disorders
- Teaches the signs of eating disorders so family and friends can intervene early, often leading to better treatment outcomes
- Teaches people how to support friends and loved ones affected by eating disorders
- Makes resources, helplines, and community support available for those struggling with an eating disorder
- Breaks stigma–the negative and unfair thoughts that people have about those with an eating disorder
- Demonstrates support and advocacy for mental health
Want to Get Involved In National Eating Disorder Awareness Week?
The more the merrier! Getting involved in National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a tremendous way to support friends, family, and your community. Here are three ways you can get involved.
- Increase awareness for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week through your social media channels. NEDA has several ready-to-use resources, and they even want you to tag them at #EDAW. If you don’t like posting on social media or don’t have an account, you could also print materials and post them at work or in community spaces you visit.
- Sign up to volunteer. NEDA has volunteer opportunities that allow for varying degrees of commitment. There are likely organizations in your community that could also use support for events or on an ongoing basis.
- Fundraise or donate to organizations that provide support and education to those struggling with eating disorders.
Remember that when it comes to supporting an important cause, there is no action too small!
Mental Health Counseling from Parkdale Center
Therapy is a powerful tool for managing life’s challenges, and there are many options available. At Parkdale Center, we provide a variety of personalized mental health counseling for individuals, couples, families, and adolescents. Our therapy offerings include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one type of talk therapy that has been proven to be very helpful with eating disorders.
If you or a loved one have been looking for additional skills and tools to support you, we hope you will reach out to us today. Our experienced, compassionate counselors are here to provide a safe space where you can grow and work towards a happier and healthier life.