Eating Disorders and Self-Esteem

Self-esteem and eating disorders are linked. How? Our self-esteem, how much we like or approve of ourselves, plays a major role in prevention and treatment of eating disorders. As part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I thought we talk about this important relationship between eating disorders and self-esteem.

Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. My clinical work in eating disorder facilities, providing therapy and creating treatment plans, has allowed me to work with hundreds of clients who suffer from eating disorders. The one commonality, they all suffered from low self-esteem prior to its development.

Self-Esteem and Eating Disorders

The role self-esteem in the development and treatment of eating disorders cannot go unnoticed. With the development of healthy self-esteem in childhood for both boys and girls and teaching self-esteem through treatment, one can help to prevent the onset and relapse of eating disorders.

Did Low Self-Esteem or Your Eating Disorder Come First?

Emily is the author of Express Yourself: A Teen Girls Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are.You can visit Emily’s Guidance Girl website. You can also find her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.