When someone mentions Ohio, my home state, they usually think football, the Midwest, and buckeyes, but from personal experience, mental health and eating disorder awareness/prevention do not always come to mind. As a kid, a close relative of mine struggled with her eating disorder and still does. It is due to that personal experience that my mother taught me about positive body image and loving one’s self. Unfortunately, often others do not always have those conversations. 

This past National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness), more than 90 iconic landmarks in dozens of cities were lit in the signature blue and green colors of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to put a spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders.

Hello, my NEDA friends! My name is Jada Michael and I’m a 19-year-old singer/songwriter from Miami, Florida. I am honored to be able to participate in National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness) and be a part of an amazing organization that is changing lives and addressing weight stigma, a toxic influence that perpetuates eating disorders and lowers self-esteem.  

In countrywide recognition of the need for research, prevention programs, and treatment options for the 30 million Americans who will experience an eating disorder, the United States Senate has passed Senate Resolution 419, officially designating Feb. 26 – March 4 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness Week) for the first time.

When I started @iamdaniadriana five years ago, I never thought that I would amass nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram. My dream when I started @iamdaniadriana was to give a voice to those who have felt marginalized from the eating disorder community, people who have felt let down or ignored in the past as they didn’t fit the “typical” look of someone with an eating disorder. 

This week marks National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness)! This year, NEDA is running an Instagram campaign to inspire people to speak out and share their stories along with the NEDA recovery symbol. By participating in this campaign, you can help show others that we are all connected and that our voices can create real change.  

Happy National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness), folks! We all know that our culture has complicated relationships with food, exercise, and appearance. This year, our theme is Let's Get Real and our goal is to expand the conversation and highlight stories we don't often hear.

Ask people what they see in an abstract piece of art, and chances are they won’t say the same thing. Every individual shape is a unique interpretation, and this different experience for every viewer is a communication channel between the artist's ideas and the viewer’s thoughts.

The year 2017 has been an uphill battle for women, and a year of liberation. Numerous people have asked me how I feel about the #MeToo movement being a person who could say, "me too." In 2015, I released my first book, CONTROLLED, a memoir which details my own sexual assault and its aftermath. Through my book I outline what occurred after my assault, a legal case I never wanted and a battle against anorexia to cope with PTSD. 

Channel your inner champion, face your fears, and raise some money for a great cause! This January, we’re calling upon YOU to join The Fearless Challenge, a NEDA initiative in which we call upon participants to choose a fear and an activity to overcome that fear. Once you meet your personal fundraising goal, you face your fear.