Eating Disorders are amongst the most stigmatizing of mental illnesses. We live in a culture that continues to perpetuate the notion that attractiveness is measured by body shape above all other factors. We see this in the media and popular culture daily, and are exposed to these messages from our youngest days onward. Barbie^TM Dolls, movie stars, and athletes project an image of worthiness based on a slender look, setting a Size Zero as the ultimate horizon for a woman who wants to be attractive. Of course, these social ideals are entirely arbitrary; who decided that skinny equals healthy and powerful? It's reminiscent of the pre-1950s concept of what a woman's role in the home and society should look like (deferential, domestic, and very attentive to her presentation). Again, this ideal was totally arbitrary, but for many women this was the only standard to follow in being feminine.

We now are fortunate enough to have dispelled these myths, though both women and men continue to subscribe to a common view of personal beauty, which has become increasingly out of reach for many. Eating Disorders are often the result of the unrealistic and unhealthy expectations which often are established very early on in a person's life, and are increasingly becoming a public health hazard evidenced by the rate of mortality for un- or under-treated EDs (see below). EDs also originate from a variety of other sources, including genetics, psychological issues, and metabolism. At Tapestry, our focus is not only treatment, but also advocating for increased social awareness and empathy for those who struggle with these range of illnesses. We believe that a person's self worth and dignity accompanies a positive self image which is developed from within by maintaining healthy and realistic personal expectations, not imposed social standards.

Here are some important facts about EDs which can inform your treatment decision:

• Between 5 to 10 million Americans are struggling with life-threatening Eating Disorders [1]
• Up to 20% of those suffering from serious Eating Disorders will face a high risk for lethality if they don't access professional treatment [2]
• 90% of diagnosed Eating Disordered persons are women [3]
• Eating Disorders have measurable impacts on teeth, bones, lymph glands, kidneys, pancreas, and heart [4]
• Women with Anorexia Nervosa are up to 60 times more likely to experience suicidality then the general population; Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate amongst all other psychiatric disorders [5]
• While up to 10 million people suffer from EDs, the research funding being granted annually is thirty times less than disorders which affect about 2 million Americans; EDs are vastly more expensive to treat than higher profile mental illnesses [6]
• Most sufferers of EDs do not access professional care in time to halt the illnesses' progression [7]