National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is February 26th — March 2nd

After struggling with anorexia for twenty-five years, I have something to say.

Please, please don’t start. I know you may not intend to acquire an eating disorder, thinking of it as something you might hold on for a few weeks, then discard. Few people do.

Someone might have proffered a remark, they thought innocuous at the time.

“Did you put on a few pounds?”

“Oh, sweetie, you have your mother’s hips.”

Anorexia is an insidious psychiatric illness, one that is sneaky and crazy like a fox. It will seduce you.

“Just five more lbs., then I will stop”

“I’ll just run six miles today.”

You will need more. And there will be no question of turning back. Like a heroin addict forever chasing her first high, every ounce you lose will leave you wanting for more. The numbers on the scale will rule your day and your self-worth. If you’ve lost weight, you are good and virtuous. If you’ve gained a miniscule amount, your heart will be heavy, full of self-loathing.