Mom who has waged a more than 30-year-long battle with anorexia nervosa, NEW JERSEY Mom-to-3, Amy, 50, New Jersey, has been living with anorexia nervosa for more than three decades. At age 17, Amy and her friends chose to experiment with a fad diet. This diet reportedly “flipped a switch” for Amy, resulting …
Former ballerina, social worker, & research associate who battled anorexia nervosa for 23 years, Rhode Island Former ballerina, social worker, and research associate, Heather, 43, Rhode Island, has served on the Board of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for the past 7 years. She was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 12 years of …
Student who lived with anorexia nervosa throughout most of her teens, CALIFORNIA Throughout her childhood, Maddie, now aged 21, California, was plagued by low self-esteem and anxiety – mental health issues that were further intensified by her then grueling six-day-a-week gymnastics training schedule. In the Spring of eighth grade, Maddie began to restrict …
Endured 20 years between her first symptoms & receiving treatment for an eating disorder, TEXAS Manda, 33, Texas, is currently unemployed due to COVID-19, but is using this time to foster abandoned kittens and spend time with her family and friends, having learned how fragile life can be. At six years of age, Manda …
Avid reader & kayaker who battled anorexia nervosa for more than 25 years, NORTH CAROLINA Avid reader and kayaker, Stacey, 48, North Carolina, was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 22 years of age. She has since spent almost half of her life waging an arduous battle with this debilitating illness. At 22 years of …
Nursing student who has battled anorexia nervosa for the past 16 years, FLORIDA From as early as she can recall, Kelly, 29, Florida, has struggled with disordered thoughts and behaviors around food. As a child, Kelly grew fearful of going through puberty. When puberty hit at 13 years of age, Kelly’s disordered eating immediately …
Nurse, eating disorder mentor & avid hiker who has lived with three eating disorders for 23 years, MINNESOTA Nurse, eating disorder mentor, and avid hiker, Shira, 37, Minneapolis, MN has battled three different types of eating disorders for more than two decades. Although her disordered eating behaviors began at seven years of age, it …
Passionate writer & college student who has spent more than half of their* life consumed by bulimia nervosa, NORTH CAROLINA College student, Katie, 20, North Carolina, began to struggle with disordered eating at the early age of eight. Katie suspects their* disordered eating was caused by strong familial and societal pressure to lose weight, …
Eating disorders advocate who has lived with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, NORTH CAROLINA Marybeth, 49, North Carolina, is the Founder of ‘Epiphany’, an organization dedicated to offering support and treatment to those living with eating disorders. Marybeth established Epiphany in 2019, after overcoming her own 20-year-long battle with anorexia nervosa, …
Linguistics PhD student who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 12 years of age, CALIFORNIA Linguistics PhD student, Erika, 30, California was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 12 years of age. During childhood, Erika was a cheerful, spontaneous, and self-confident child, who enjoyed school, exercising and spending time with her family and friends. In …