Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025
Anyone Can Be Affected By An Eating Disorder
What is Eating Disorders Awareness Week?
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025 takes place between Monday, February 24, and Sunday, March 2. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the seriousness of eating disorders while celebrating the courage of individuals who have been affected by them. Increasing awareness is essential for encouraging individuals to seek help and highlighting the need for further research in the area.
The theme for Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025 is “Anyone can be affected by an eating disorder”. They do not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity or background, affecting anyone at any time (2).
Eating disorders are a group of mental illnesses which can have serious effects on individuals eating behaviours and, thus, their physical and mental well-being (1). Some common eating disorders you may have heard of are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder but there are many more. Although it’s difficult to estimate the global prevalence of eating disorders due to their variance, it has been estimated that rates rose from 3.5% in 2006 to 7.8% in 2018 (1). Such an increase suggests a distinct need for action to prevent and treat these conditions, which can significantly impact people’s lives worldwide.
Eating Disorder Facts & Figures
Despite eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa, being the deadliest type of mental illness, there is far less research on these conditions than other mental illnesses. The reasons for this are multifaceted and include stigma, funding and complex diagnostic reasons. Consequently, awareness of such conditions, their symptoms, treatments and prevention strategies are limited.
Learn About Eating Disorders with Celine Tabche, Eating Disorder Practitioner and Nutritionist
To learn more about eating disorders, the research landscape, and how to manage them, I interviewed Celine Tabche, the Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Education and Training at Imperial College London. Celine is also an eating disorders practitioner with a Master's in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition from UCL and a certified associate nutritionist in the UK.
Authored by: Helene Davis, WHOCC Intern
Edited by: Celine Tabche, ANtr, FHEA, Ela Augustyniak, MA & Rachel Barker, WHOCC
To learn more about eating disorders or get help, please visit the following sites:
For all:
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/eating-disorders/overview/
- https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1098108x
Specifically designed for Healthcare Professionals:
- https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorder-resources/health-professionals
- https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=13115&chapterid=607
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5690314/