Though organizations and medical professionals across the country are working to raise awareness about eating disorders, some – like Jennifer Smith, guest columnist for MetroWest Daily – believes it’s an issue that still goes unnoticed.

“Fewer than 50,000 cases of H1N1 were reported last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yet this potentially deadly strain of flue was treated as a national emergency. In contrast, millions of college students have eating disorders, yet most of them receive little or no medical attention or psychological intervention.”

Studies have found that the mortality rate for eating disorders is higher than any other psychiatric disorder. The suicide rate among eating disorder sufferers is also 50 percent higher than the general population’s.

In other words, if you struggle with an eating disorder – take it seriously, because it can kill you. And if you’re thinking “well, that won’t happen to me” just remember – that’s what every person who has died from an eating disorder thought, too.
 

Labels: awareness

Posted By: CRC Health