Eating Disorder Professionals on How the Field Has Changed

The National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2022 See the Change, Be the Change theme focuses on how far the eating disorder field has come in the twenty years since NEDA was founded, and the progress still left to be made.

We asked our California team of eating disorder therapists and eating disorder dietitians how they have seen the eating disorder field evolve, and what changes they hope to see in the future. Here is what they had to say.

Jasmine Dunckel

“It is now clear how marginalization, oppression, sexism, and racism are intertwined with eating disorders…”

Jasmine Dunckel, LMFT: The Health At Every Size movement is inspiring. It has also ushered in a new awareness of social justice issues related to eating disorders, as it is now clear how marginalization, oppression, sexism, and racism are intertwined with eating disorders and the pursuit of the thin i.e. “correct” body. I think this serves the eating disorder community in that eating disorders are seen as multifaceted solutions to problems of powerlessness rather than the old views of it being a superficial elitist illness.”

Samantha Young, LPCC: “I think that with eating disorders the field continues to evolve with just overall understanding.  There is still a lot of misinformation out there that individuals experience within the medical profession as well as in the mental health profession. I think that I would like to see it continue to develop to where it is more understood that it is not just as simple as......"eat this, don't eat this, just stop doing this, etc" and is really understood more and treated more like other mental illnesses.”

Meghan Montgomery, LPCC: The body positive and Health at Every Size (HAES) movement have been a light in such a rigid world. I look forward to moving closer to mental health and self-love being further normalized and depicted realistically in media, pop culture, and especially in education because I feel this will reduce the experience of individuals putting blame and shame on their relationship with food and body. The world needs more acceptance and motivation toward self-discovery leading to neutral perspectives on rigid gender roles and shame-based body goals. 

Lauren Lambert

“As HAES and body positivity continues to build awareness, I hope more people will be open and willing to learn about and confront their own fatphobia and the toxic, diet culture we continue to live in.”

Lauren Lambert, LPCC: “As HAES and body positivity continues to build awareness, I hope more people will be open and willing to learn about and confront their own fatphobia and the toxic, diet culture we continue to live in. I hope more people will use this awareness in their intentions with the stores they shop at, the products they use and the media they follow.”

Courtney Fazli, LMFT: “I would say the biggest shift I have seen has been the visibility factor of how prevalent eating disorders are as well as beginning to demystify what it means to have an eating disorder. What I would love to see is more progression around accessibility for those who have financial struggles and reaching communities of color. These are often groups that are greatly affected but do not have the same resources to seek help.” 

Casey Kettering, RD: “I think that the mental health field is beginning to recognize that eating disorders do affect men, gender non-conforming folks, members of the LGBTQ community, people of color, and individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds. This is a crucially important step towards making treatment facilities more accessible, affordable, and inclusive to anyone who is struggling to overcome an eating disorder, as treatment centers, especially at higher levels of treatment, remain predominantly white, affluent, and female. Increasing diversity within clinicians and practitioners is also vital.”

Alisha Dudish

“My hope is to have all healthcare professionals be able to appropriately screen for eating disorders.”

Alisha Dudish, RD: “I believe the field is evolving but still needs to have easier access to care and society needs more open discussions around eating disorders so people know about who is suffering. It is often a closeted experience and people are embarrassed to share they have an eating disorder. More communication about it will help spread awareness about the prevalence of eating disorders. My hope is to have all healthcare professionals be able to appropriately screen for eating disorders and know what to look for. Our society has a long way to go with body positivity. We need more body positivity for every shape and size and color.”