February 27 – March 5 – National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Here’s what you should know.

BUFFALO GAP, Texas. People with an eating disorder are about 6% more likely to die at a young age than the general population.

Camela Balcomb, executive director of Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas, provided this statistic.

This year, the week of February 27 to March 5 is being celebrated as “National Eating Disorder Awareness Week,” a theme Balcomb has been passionate about for the last 26 years of her profession.

“What we’re treating is, in fact, you’re interfering with behavior, whether it’s a food problem, a drug problem, a drinking problem, you’re interfering with that,” Balcomb said.

Shades of Hope helps those who struggle with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder and bulimia, as well as alcohol and drug addiction, which often occur as comorbidities.

People with ED often try to block out negative emotions by engaging in addictive behaviors such as undereating, overeating, detoxing, using laxatives, or compulsive exercise, Balcomb says.

To better deal with these internal problems, it can be helpful to identify the root of the problem.

For some, this may mean overcoming past traumas such as bullying or sexual abuse, and for others, it may be due to a history of alcoholism in their families.

“How do you deal with your thoughts and the things life throws at you in the best and healthiest way possible? For us, that’s all it’s about,” Balcomb said.

There are also a number of risk factors to be aware of, including going to the bathroom immediately after eating, playing with food, and a general preoccupation with nutrition.

For some patients, intervention can help make the final decision about recovery, but in the end, it should be a personal matter for everyone.

“It all comes down to lifting,” Balcomb said.

“A parent cannot fix it, a loved one cannot fix it. They should be able to make a decision and be able to change themselves,” she added.

After all, turning to the one who is struggling, you can change for the better not only his life, but also all those around him.

If you or a loved one has an eating disorder, please visit the National Eating Disorders page for more resources.