Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders

Worried that a loved one may be suffering from an eating disorder and not getting the proper help? Learn about the tragedy and higher mortality rate associated an eating disorder.

According to an article at smh.com.au, “The Importance of Getting Help for an Eating Disorder”

“The Tragic Side of an Eating Disorder
It was a bittersweet victory for Alana Goldsmith’s family. A NSW coroner found this week the 23-year-old had taken her own life “while suffering anorexia nervosa”, officially acknowledging what the Goldsmiths and far too many other Australians know first-hand: eating disorders kill.

People with eating disorders have a higher mortality rate than those with any other mental illness, while almost one in five people with anorexia nervosa who die prematurely do so by their own hand.

Yet, until now, official records have not identified the underlying cause of these tragically early deaths, putting them down to an immediate cause such as an organ failure or suicide, and leading those who are fighting for better recognition and treatment of eating disorders to describe them as “the silent epidemic”.

They are hoping the Goldsmiths’ courageous decision to ask the coroner to make an order publishing their daughter’s name and cause of death will raise awareness of these devastating mental illnesses and their impact.

They believe that because the link between eating disorders and their fatal consequences has been masked, it has been easy for politicians and clinicians to ignore the needs of those suffering from them. Stigma has thrived and a serious psychiatric condition has been minimized as a “lifestyle choice”. To read the entire article click here.

Barbara Cox at ABC Nutrition Services in Reno is the leading expert in eating disorders. To schedule an appointment contact ABC Nutrition Services at 775-329-0505 or visit ABCNutritionServices.com.