Health news, tips and features: Healia Health Blog

February 28th, 2008

National Eating Disorders Association Highlights Genetics with “Be Comfortable in Your Genes Campaign”

Health News posted 4 years ago by The Healia Team

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 24 - March 1. During this time, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) highlights the fact that body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors, like genetics. NEDA also likes to call attention to some of the new discoveries surrounding the role of genetics in the development of eating disorders.

NEDA’s campaign “Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the TRUE you.” focuses on helping individuals feel at ease with their natural size. The use of the word “genes” within the message also provides a foundation for addressing the fact that eating disorders are serious illnesses, not choices.

In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia—and because of the secretiveness and shame associated with eating disorders, many cases are probably not reported. According to the NEDA, 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Eating disorders are serious behavior problems and include:

Anorexia nervosa: when a person becomes too thin by not eating enough because they think they are overweight.
Bulimia nervosa: involves periods of overeating followed by purging, sometimes through self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives.
Binge-eating: out-of-control eating.

So don’t wait until the weekend to be comfortable in your “genes”, be comfortable with your genes and who you are--all the time!!