28.8 million Americans either have an eating disorder, or will have an eating disorder within their lifetime. 28.8 million people in the U.S. alone.

Many different things can cause eating disorders, and it’s not always just one thing causing them. An article from the Mayo Clinic explains, “Most eating disorders involve focusing too much on your weight, body shape, and food, leading to dangerous eating behaviors.” An anonymous sophomore spoke about their experiences with an eating disorder.

“Sometimes I do feel limited by my lifestyle because it takes so much effort and energy to make the energy to eat when I don’t want to.”

Eating disorders can go unnoticed for years, and can be more or less severe at different point throughout a person’s life.

“I found out when I went to the dentist because you can see it in your teeth if you have an ED, and then we went to a professional and was diagnosed.”

Mr. Bone, the school psychologist here at Coronado says, “Eating disorders are not about food! They are primarily a maladaptive response to various stimuli that are practically unavoidable in today’s society. These stimuli include many direct and indirect messages (often related to appearances and desirability) that can produce, (often intentionally through advertising), a feeling of being “less than” in comparison to others. The response to feeling “less than” frequently produces attempts to alter appearance by adopting unhealthy approaches to eating.”

Overall, society can have a powerful influence on our lives. Whether it be social media, product advertisements, or influence from our peers, these influences can have negative effects on our well-being.

When society tries to negatively impact your life, fight it! Do everything in your power to change this world for the better. The way you see and treat yourself everyday is the first, most important, step to doing so.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with an eating disorder, the best thing you can do is reach out for help. Whether it be talking to a friend or a trusted family member, anything helps. If you’re not the one struggling with the eating disorder, be a friend to someone who is. Give that person someone to talk to, someone to relate to. Having an eating disorder, or any other mental or physical condition, doesn’t mean it has to take over your identity.