The holidays can be joyful, but they can also bring stress for many people. While festive foods and special meals are highlights of the season for some, they can be a source of stress, anxiety, or emotional strain for anyone struggling with an eating disorder or negative body image.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, about 9% of people in the U.S. will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, body sizes, and backgrounds. You may already know someone who has struggled, or there may be people in your life who are struggling silently.
Even if you’re not aware of anyone specific, you can make the holiday season more supportive for everyone by being mindful of language and behaviors that reinforce diet culture or weight stigma. Because these messages are so ingrained in our society, it’s easy to miss how they show up in our daily conversations and traditions. Weight stigma is linked to depression, low self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction, and young people who diet are more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who don’t. The good news is that small changes in how we talk and act can make a big difference.
Download the Know! Tip to learn practical ways to help create and support healthy holiday habits.
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