The week of February 20 is National Eating Disorders Week. Christy Beck, from Beck Psychotherapy, shares some myths and facts surrounding the condition.

Facts and Myths Surrounding Eating Disorders

1.Myth: Eating disorders are a choice. I can tell someone to have a cookie and they’ll be fine.

Fact: Eating disorders are a serious mental health condition that can also severely impact one’s physical health. There is hope, however, eating disorders are highly treatable.

2. Myth: Eating disorders are no big deal.

Fact: Eating disorders affect 20 million women & 10 million men in the US at some time in their lives.

Fact: Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.

3. Myth: If someone doesn’t look like they have an eating disorder, they probably don’t.

Fact: Eating disorders can look very different on different people. Just because someone is not emaciated, does not mean there isn’t a problem.

4. Myth: Only girls and women have eating disorders.

Fact: About 1/3 of eating disorder sufferers are male.

Fact: eating disorders cuts across all genders and races

National Eating Disorders Week is sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association. This year’s theme is “It’s Time to Talk About It” encouraging everyone to get screened. You can take a free, confidential screening at the Beck Psychotherapy website.

Beck Psychotherapy is located at 103 East Beaver Ave. Suite #2 in State College, and at 700 Park Avenue Suite #1 in Altoona. You can call them at (814) 409-7744. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.