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NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS WEEK

Spotlighting nonprofits doing crucial work

Every year, the last week of February is designated to National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) week, helping to raise awareness of eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating that affect the lives of many Americans and their families, which have spiked since the pandemic. Though body image issues or obsessions over body size can start from an early age, NEDA Week is an initiative that aims to educate and allow those who need treatment to gain access to the necessary life-saving resources.

The text "National Eating Disorders Awareness Week" with a green ribbon over a white background.

NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS WEEK

Today, many nonprofits are working to debunk stereotypes and make significant changes; as findings indicate, nearly 24% of today’s youth said that “they have or have had an eating disorder.” Ahead, we’re looking into three youth-focused organizations helping Gen Zs and Alphas on their healthy body and eating journey.

Image of illustrated, colorful, diverse people with the logo for the Body Positive Alliance

BODY POSITIVE ALLIANCE

The Body Positive Alliance is a student-led non-profit organization that spreads body positivity through all-ages programming. Offering a place for high school and college-aged folks to explore topics from body image to diet culture to the representation of marginalized groups, and an anti-bias curriculum focused on five core subjects to encourage tolerance, empathy, and inclusion for kids aged 5-11, the alliance is committed to advocating for the acceptance, systemic equality, and representation of all bodies regardless of physical ability, size, gender, race, or appearance.

Quote text “There is such a big influence in society today to look a certain way or be a certain weight and people that are more easily swayed end up with eating disorders which are not healthy for your body or your mind.” over a navy background

— Grace, 16, PA (Cassandra Collective)

Image of the Project Heal logo with a picture of a spiral bound notebook that has the text "All Bodies Are Good Bodies"

PROJECT HEAL

Co-founders Kristina Saffran and Lianna Rosenman met in treatment for anorexia nervosa when they were 13 years old. They founded Project HEAL two years later to provide scholarships for people with eating disorders to receive treatment. Project HEAL's vision is to create a world where everyone with an eating disorder has the opportunities & resources they need to heal. Its programs break down systemic, healthcare, and financial barriers that millions of people in the U.S. face when seeking treatment.

Image of the gray Realize Your Beauty logo on a white background

REALIZE YOUR BEAUTY

Realize Your Beauty promotes positive body image to youth through theater arts, workshops & camps to promote self-esteem, body positivity, and eating disorder awareness.The non-profit's goal is for students to discover a new way of thinking about themselves, their bodies, and their beauty and to question the images of beauty in front of them. Workshops focus on fostering inner beauty- taking the focus away from societal standards and the pressure to be 'pretty', encouraging students to put their energy into kindness, integrity, and respect towards themselves & others, and focus on developing their unique inner qualities.