National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDAW) is a national campaign taking place from February 23 to March 1, 2026. Its goal is to increase public understanding of eating disorders, reduce stigma, and connect individuals and families with support and resources.
Eating disorders are more common than many people realize:
- About 1 in 11 Americans (9%) will experience an eating disorder at some point¹.
- In the U.S., ~30 million people are affected across all ages and backgrounds².
- Worldwide prevalence more than doubled between 2000 and 2018, indicating a sharp rise³
- Second-highest mortality rate among mental health conditions (after opioid use disorder) ⁴
Despite how widespread and serious these conditions are, eating disorders are often misunderstood as being only about food or appearance. In reality, they are complex mental health conditions shaped by emotional, psychological, and biological factors.
As registered dietitian Milaena Ferrarese, MS, RDN, founder of Healthy Kinnect shared on the Candid Minds with Dr. T & Friends podcast, “Food choices are never really just about food… They’re about control, identity, safety, even self-worth.”
This perspective reflects what many clinicians and individuals in recovery have found to be true. Eating disorders often emerge from deeply rooted issues, including anxiety, trauma, identity challenges, and a need for control. Recognizing these underlying factors can be a powerful step toward recovery. Recovery from an eating disorder often also involves internal work and mindset shifts. As Milaena shared when talking about her own personal struggles with an eating disorder:
“Surrender was one of the hardest things for me, but one of the most transformative things that I could have ever done on my journey.”
This week is an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage compassion for those who are struggling silently, those currently in treatment, and those supporting loved ones through recovery. If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, help is available.
At Mindful Care, we are committed to providing compassionate mental health services and connecting individuals with the resources they need to take meaningful steps toward healing.
Sources
1. National Eating Disorders Association. Eating Disorder Statistics.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics
2. Psychiatry.org. Eating Disorders Statistics (PDF).
https://www.psychiatry.org/getmedia/4e28215e-4c52-426c-af97-0e55d0ace2/Eating-Disorders-Statistic…
3. Galmiche M., et al., Prevalence of eating disorders increased globally. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2019).
4. AddictionGroup.org. Eating Disorders Statistics.
https://www.addictiongroup.org/resources/eating-disorder-statistics/
5. Meta-analysis of mortality rates in eating disorders. ScienceDirect.
