Eating disorders are complex medical conditions with devastating consequences. In fact, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, resulting in one death every 62 minutes (ANAD, 2017). With this staggering statistic in mind, it is crucial for all of us to consider an advocacy role within the eating disorder community.

 

What is advocacy?  Advocacy is using your voice to enact change. It’s recognizing that a particular issue warrants further attention and involves taking steps to inform an effective solution. Advocacy initiatives can include a range of activities such as lobbying, social media campaigns, public speaking, and publishing. Efforts are often addressed to government agencies, social systems and institutions.

 

What are the basic principles of advocacy?

• Knowledge: To be a successful advocate, it is critical that one has done their research and is educated on the particular cause they are fighting for.
• Passion: There are many potential sources of inspiration for choosing to advocate for an issue -- no one reason is more valid than another, but feeling passionate about the cause is essential.
• Patience: Advocacy is challenging and change takes time. It is important to have patience and recognize that your voice is heard, even when the intended outcome is not readily achieved.

 

 

Why do we need advocacy around eating disorders?  As the leading cause of mortality among all psychiatric disorders, eating disorders have a devastating impact on our society. There are significant and potentially irreversible effects on the body including cardiac complications, bone loss, gastrointestinal issues, and infertility. In addition to the psychological and physiological impact on the individual suffering with an eating disorder, family members, friends and colleagues are also adversely affected.

 

Identifying opportunities to increase awareness and education surrounding eating disorders, as well as resources available to individuals struggling with this illness is critical to reducing the morbidity and mortality of eating disorders. Please click on the image below to view our Advocacy Toolkit, a wonderful resource for college students interested in advocacy initiatives on campus, in their local community, and/or during Lobby Days with the Eating Disorders Coalition.

 

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Advocacy Toolkit