If you or someone you love has been struggling with an eating disorder, you have questioned “Why did this develop?”. Kendra DeFrank, MA, LCPC helps shed some light on why these deadly disorders develop and how truly complex they are.

The summer season can be challenging to navigate for those who are in eating disorder recovery or are healing a negative relationship with their body. The pressure of diet culture is exacerbated as we take advantage of the sun and warm weather. Summer activities and celebrations can increase food and body anxieties, so learning to cope with summer eating disorder triggers is important to keep you aligned with your recovery.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a new diagnosis in the DSM-5 and for the eating disorder community. While prevalence in the general pediatric population is not known, rates of ARFID are between 5% and 14% in pediatric inpatient eating disorder programs and up to 22.5% in a pediatric eating disorder day treatment program.1 What’s more, the few studies that have examined ARFID in adults suggest that it may be just as common as the better-known eating disorders.2 ARFID is largely unseen and has been misunderstood for years and, still, there is little research and understanding of the condition. What’s more, because of the myriad of “unknowns” of this condition, health care practitioners may find it increasingly challenging to work collaboratively in order to appropriately treat the disorder.

There is a way to eat for emotional wellness that does not have to translate to being unhealthy or abusing emotional eating. Being able to find that balance can allow for a better quality of life and one that focuses on wellness in a more holistic way, including mental, emotional and physical wellness.

Let's celebrate food again! Who’s with us this pumpkin spice season in allowing in eating for emotional health and no longer depriving ourselves of foods we loved due to fear that we’re doing something bad or wrong?!