It's National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Feb. 25-Mar. 3, 2007

This is a very important awareness program sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association. It's all about education and helping people know that they are not alone. There is a great deal of help and community available to all of us.

The key message for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is:

“Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the REAL you.”

How fittingly for Back in Skinny Jeans readers. To elaborate:

"NEDAW, in its 20th year, will highlight the fact that body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors – such as genetics, while also calling attention to some of the new discoveries surrounding the role of genetics in the development of eating disorders.

Too often individuals struggle against their natural, genetically influenced size just to fit into that pair of “skinny jeans” in the back of their closets. Fighting your natural size and shape can lead to unhealthy dieting practices, poor body image and sometimes eating disorders."

What a fantastic theme, and one that hits close to my heart ;-) Ever since I started this blog, I wanted to shine the light on the whys and motivations behind our need to hold onto that "Back in skinny jeans" dream, the one where we believe that if we can get skinny again our lives will be perfect and happy. The truth is that your life can be joyful and fulfilling at any time you decide that you want that regardless of what you look like. The universe does not have a beauty requirement for happiness. We humans are the ones that choose to believe that myth.

I have just recently become familiar with the National Eating Disorders Association, and wish I had known about them when I was going through my own healing from bulimia. On their website, some very helpful tools include a page on all their programs, which include helplines, referrals to medical professionals and facilities, family networks, media watchdogs, and even grants for those wanting to make a difference.

They have a full page of some really wonderful Eating Disorders Information like causes of eating disorders, ED prevention & education, athletes and EDs, eating disorders in males as well as females (EDs are not just a girl problem), dental complications, diversity in ED programs, and EDs& pregnancy. These are just some of the things you can find in their Information Index. It's extremely helpful. 

I encourage all of you to visit the National Eating Disorders Association website for more information. There are even events being held in local areas. Find out about events in your area here.

Big Thanks to FitSugar for sharing this fantastic information with us!