Amplifying Marginalized Voices During NEDA Week

Feb 23, 2022

1 min read

Updated: Feb 24, 2022

TW/CW: eating disorders, eating disorder treatment and recovery, stigma, oppression and marginalization

Disclaimer: The links featured in this post contain discussion of topics such as eating disorders, stigma, oppression, racism, fatphobia, diet culture, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, harmful language surrounding these topics, and more and could be triggering for readers. Please open links at your own discretion and have a plan to take care of yourself if you become triggered. Additionally, the links and websites below are provided for educational and informational purposes. This is not an endorsement for or against any of the organizations, websites, or individuals.

One more note: These are mostly US-based organizations and websites.

Introduction

This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. One of the common myths about eating disorders is the stereotype of the thin, white, affluent, cisgender, female teenager with an eating disorder. While the thin, white, affluent, cisgender, female teenager of course deserves treatment and recovery, she nearly always has accessibility to a program if and when she decides to go. The truth is that eating disorders affect everyone, and marginalized individuals are underdiagnosed and have numerous barriers to seeking and obtaining treatment. As a middle class cis white woman with a fat body, chronic pain, and a neurodivergent mind, both privilege and marginalization influenced my eating disorder diagnosis/treatment/recovery journey, and I'll write about it on another day. Today, I want to amplify other marginalized, intersectional voices and direct people toward resources that can help. (Source: Marginalized Voices | National Eating Disorders Association)

There are a growing amount of articles and resources available. This list represents a starting point for learning more. This is also not an exhaustive list of marginalized and intersecting identities and is categorized according to the resources found.

Eating Disorder Support: where to go when you're struggling

National Alliance for Eating Disorders Support Groups (allianceforeatingdisorders.com): Virtual and in Person Support Groups, including a specific LGBTQ+ virtual group

National Alliance for Eating Disorders Database: National database for treatment options and the Alliance's helpline information

National Eating Disorders Association: Help and Support Resources

National Eating Disorders Association: Free and Low-Cost Support

Eating Disorder Support Group For Black Folks (thesanctuaryinthecity.org): Free, online support group for Black folks, all genders, all body sizes

Sage and Spoon | nalgonapositive (nalgonapositivitypride.com): Virtual support group specifically for Indigenous and People of Color and designated as an LGBT Safe Space, open to both USA and worldwide

Rainbow Road: Eating Disorder Treatment for Queer Community | Walden (waldeneatingdisorders.com): the first eating disorder treatment program specifically designed for LGBTQIA2s+

FEDUP Collective (fedupcollective.org): Resource page from the FEDUP Collective (Fighting Eating Disorders in Underrepresented Populations)

Certified Body Trust® Providers – Be Nourished: Multidisciplinary group of providers who have been certified as a Body Trust Provider by Be Nourished, which advocates for weight-inclusive, trauma-informed care rooted in social justice

Ophelia's Place (opheliasplace.org): Online support groups and resources for every body

Donate/Help/Volunteer

Eating Disorders Coalition: Get Involved: Individuals: Focuses on research, policy, and action

Get Involved — Project HEAL (theprojectheal.org): Project HEAL focuses on expanding access to eating disorder treatment, especially for marginalized communities

Fundraising for Project HEAL (classy.org): Marginalized Communities Equity Treatment Project

Additionally, most of the websites and organizations linked in this blog have an option to donate.

Please also consider donating directly to authors of articles linked here. Many of them will have a link on their website or social media.

Scholarships and Funding for Treatment

Project HEAL (theprojectheal.org)

National Scholarship Program | Manna Fund Inc.

Moonshadow's Spirit (moonshadowsspirit.org)

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color/Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color

Body Positivity Women of Color | Nalgonapositivitypride: Eating Disorder and Body Positive resources, education, and more centering Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color (BICC); offers trainings for issues affecting BICC individuals

Blog — Project HEAL (theprojectheal.org): Project HEAL's blog features many articles by, for, and about marginalized voices

No More Margins: Centering the Stories of Black Women with Eating Disorders by Rachel W. Goode, PhD, MPH on the NEDA blog

Shattering the Narrative: 3 Actions To Support BIPOC with Eating Disorders - Breaking the Chains Foundation by Mia Harris, M.Ed

4 Things Everyone Should Know About Eating Disorders in Marginalized Communities (thebodyisnotanapology.com) by Gloria Lucas

Thick Dumpling Skin - About: reader-submission based collection focusing on eating disorder recovery and Asian communities

How I Convinced Myself I Didn’t Have an Eating Disorder — And Returned to Myself Through Fierce Black Self-Love (thebodyisnotanapology.com) by Taylor Steele

Eating Disorders: Latin@s At Risk - Latino USA

For people of color struggling with eating disorders, community is key - WHYY by Steph Lin

How anti-Blackness fuels my eating disorder - The Black Youth Project by Gloria Oladipo

Eating Disorders in the Asian American Community: A Call for Cultural Consciousness - MEDA - Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (medainc.org) by Lauren Kim

My Journey And Why Latinas And Eating Disorders Matter » BoldLatina by Priscilla Gutierrez

Part 1: How Culture can Influence Eating, Eating Disorders, and Recovery - The Emily Program by Bhakti Doroodian