Despite the strides made around bringingdisordered eatingto the fore, major misconceptions persist.
(The organization runsNational Eating Disorders Awareness Weekeach year.)
More specifically,NEDAsays 10 million men will be impacted by an eating disorder at some point.
Anastasiia Dmitrieva / Getty Images
All of this means any conversation about disordered eating that isnt radically inclusive can leave millions of people unsupported.
Here, SELF speaks with four NEDA ambassadors about their varied experiences with eating disorders.
That set in motion a very long battle that defined my entire teenage years.
Photo by Buzzfeed
I was diagnosed withbulimiawhen I was 15 years old.
Someone in my life didnt think boys could have bulimia, so that became an issue.
It felt as though being called a bulimic marked me as being gay.
Photo by Lindley Ashline
For many years, I was like, Im by myself.
And I thought, If no one is going to talk abouteating disorders, then Ill talk about them.
I wont have all the answers, but at least I can, hopefully, start a conversation.
Photo by Savannah Sherhouse
So, for me, especially in the queer community, I just bring it up in random places.
We all know multiple people battling disordered eating.
Because I was considered overweight, health care professionals said triggering things.
Photo by Kate Haus Photography
My recovery first started when I collapsed on a treadmill in the gym.
I spent years after that trying to diet.
Coming from a Latinx community, there is constant scrutiny about bodies.
I am working with a psychotherapist to give a shot to unpack things that are holding it together.
My eating disorder developed when I was about 10 years old.
Whenever I lost weight, health care providers told me that I was doing a good job.
One of the biggest issues I got because of it was anemia.
My metabolism is also completely shot, and sometimes my body has a hard time digesting food.
Its really strange to live in a body that doesnt know how to care for itself.
I was also pretty alone.
It was validating and felt like my whole world shifted.
For me, its really important to say that it is possible.
Unfortunately, that also means being closer to thinness.
This sexualization leads to a desire to shrink oneself for stop the uncomfortable attention.
If were all having really cathartic experiences and not processing whats happening, no ones learning anything.
I do know is that recovery is possible.
I was diagnosed withbinge eating disorderin 2015.
Initially I thought the diagnosis was a cure of sorts.
Knowing youre not alone is huge, because a lot of men suffer in silence.
Things did get worse, and I eventually got treatment.
Theres a big discussion in the eating disorder community about being recovered versus in recovery.
I believe I will always be in recovery.
Im terrified that if I let go completely, Ill go back to those ways.
The difference is that this time, I didnt let it spiral.
I called mysupport groupthat day and said, I need help.
I was like, What do you mean?
What are your thoughts?
Its true that modeling has been a challengeit still is.
I cant tell you that I love my body every single day.
Its more about body neutrality for me.
A lot of people think, especially if youre a NEDA ambassador, you have everything figured out.
The truth is, I dont.
But what I do know is that recovery is possible.
Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.
