Disordered Eating Aware

24th February to 1st March 2026 marks Eating Disorders Awareness Week 

Have you heard of Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW)? This month we see this vital campaign dedicated to dismantling stigma, disseminating life-saving information, and illuminating the path to recovery for the 1.25 million individuals nationwide affected by these severe mental illnesses. EDAW 2026 not only aims to deepen public comprehension of clinical diagnoses but also to cast a critical spotlight on a pervasive and insidious cultural issue: the normalisation of disordered eating behaviours driven by extreme health fads and digital wellness culture.

The clinical spectrum of eating disorders is both broad and complex, encompassing conditions with distinct characteristics that require specific, evidence-based interventions. The week underscores the importance of recognising these differences to ensure appropriate support. Key diagnoses include:

Anorexia Nervosa: characterised by severe energy restriction and an intense fear of weight gain; with early, specialist intervention, the majority of anorexic patients can be successfully managed as outpatients within community-based services. 

Bulimia Nervosa: involves recurrent cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours like purging, while Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is defined by similar episodes of binge eating without these compensatory acts. 

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): is driven by severely limiting the types or amounts of food they eat, not due to body image concerns, but because of sensory issues (smell, texture), fear of negative consequences (choking, vomiting), or a lack of interest in eating, leading to significant nutritional deficits, weight loss, weight gain due to restricting diet to unhealthy foods or impaired social functioning. 

Rumination Disorder: Rumination syndrome is a condition in which someone repeatedly regurgitates undigested or partially digested food from the stomach. The regurgitated food is then chewed again and swallowed or spit out. People with rumination syndrome don't try to regurgitate food. It happens without any effort.

Orthorexia: growing concern exists in the grey area before a formal diagnosis. The modern pursuit of "wellness," often amplified by social media algorithms, has given rise to a dangerous normalisation of rigid and extreme dietary protocols. Cleanses, detoxes, unscientific "clean-eating" rules, and the vilification of essential food groups (such as carbohydrates or dairy) often masquerade as virtuous self-care. In reality, they can foster an unhealthy obsession with food "purity" which can lead to social isolation, cause nutritional deficiencies, and instil profound anxiety around eating. 

The journey to recovery, whether from a diagnosed illness or a harmful pattern of disordered eating, is founded on compassion, clinical evidence, and community support. Support always begins with a conversation, often with a GP who can provide a referral to specialist eating disorder services. 

Ultimately, Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026 challenges us all to look beyond the hashtags and headlines. By fostering media literacy, challenging diet culture, and promoting psychological wellbeing over aesthetic ideals, we can collectively work towards a society where food is a source of nourishment and connection, not anxiety, and where seeking help is seen as an act of strength.

Image Credits: pexels.com & pixabay.com