This content has been updated from previous article on February 12, 2021.
Eating Disorders affect an astonishing nine percent of people worldwide, or about 28.8 million people in the United States. That means that everyone probably knows somebody who lives with an Eating Disorder. These disorders are not only unnervingly common, but they are also dangerous.
On average, someone in the United States dies from an eating disorder every 52 minutes. That makes Eating Disorders the second-deadliest mental health condition, second only to opioid abuse.
Yet, as pervasive and dangerous as eating disorders are, they do not play a significant role in our public discourse. People often shy away from talking about eating disorders for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, this leaves room for myths and misunderstandings to take hold.
It’s time to break that cycle by busting some of the most common myths about eating disorders.