The population of the United States is approximately 340 million people, and roughly 28.8 million Americans have an eating disorder. This is a staggering number of people, and there are steps we can take to positively impact people with eating disorders. One actionable step we can take is to shift the language we use by eliminating unhelpful phrases and comments from our everyday lives.
Eating disorder recovery is challenging for everyone involved, including parents of those with eating disorders. While working through recovery is more rewarding than staying stuck in an eating disorder, it is important to remember that recovery is not a linear process. This can make supporting your child in recovery feel demanding and exhausting.
Maintaining stable relationships with loved ones in recovery can be challenging. People with eating disorders often isolate themselves and act differently than they do when they are not struggling. That does not mean all hope is lost or that you, as part of their support system, should give up or stop doing what is best for them.
