Editor's note: this post originally appeared on Proud2Bme.org.
In one month, many of the greatest activists and professionals will converge in San Diego at the annual NEDA Conference to discuss the state of eating disorder treatment, research, and advocacy.
Given the complex nature of eating disorders, they often require a professional team approach. That is, eating disorder recovery requires the combined involvement of professionals, including: registered dieticians, psychiatrists, therapists, and general practitioners. However, many individuals do not understand who registered dieticians are or what role nutritional therapy plays in the recovery process.
So who are Registered Dietitians?
Think dietary supplements are healthy and safe, right? Think again. Sure, they are in every local health food store, pharmacy, and grocery, but because of a loophole the size of the Grand Canyon in federal law, the usual government safeguards we depend on to keep our food and drugs safe do not apply to dietary supplements.
When my beautiful daughter was diagnosed with severe anorexia in 2013, I was gobsmacked. I came up with a hundred irrational rationalizations and alternative reasons for her severe weight loss. But, soon enough our new reality sank in: this was serious and this was not going away quickly or easily.
On July 11, Serena Williams won her sixth Wimbledon championship. After 21 Grand Slams and this milestone, Serena has quite clearly made history as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Note: This article was originally written for and published on the Proud2Bme site.
The Internet has a bad reputation. With the click of a button, we can easily hurt one another, whether it be in regards to race, sex, religion, or appearance.
Here at the National Eating Disorders Association, we believe that social media has the ability to empower people and spread messages of hope and (body) positivity.
It was your typical Sunday morning. My alarm woke me up early so that I could get ready for church. Out of habit, I reached for my phone and discovered that I had over a thousand emails in my inbox. While a few where your typical spam emails and newsletters, most of them were social media notifications telling me that people had been commenting on my videos, pictures and blog post - calling me every name you could imagine a fat person might be called and worse.
On June 26, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled, in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, that same-sex marriages and unions are legal and must be recognized in all 50 states.
On June 19, Gov. Nixon of Missouri signed into law SB 145, legislation which requires health benefit plans to cover the treatment and diagnosis of eating disorders within the state.
