It is my honor to share with you this article by two eating
disorder experts — Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC, Founder and
Director of Eating Disorder Hope and Debra Cooper, Expert Writer
on eating disorders…. Eating disorders are now epidemic in the
United States. Approximately 11 million women and girls struggle
with anorexia and bulimia. Although the average age of onset is
14, girls are being diagnosed as young as eight. In years past,
an eating disorder stereotype existed. This person was female,
white, usually first-born or an only child, a high-achiever and
from an affluent family. That stereotype is long gone. Today,
anorexia and bulimia are equal-opportunity disorders. They
flourish in every culture, race, ethnicity, social-economic
group, and religion throughout our country. And, whereas eating
disorders were once exclusively a female issue, this is no
longer the case. Anorexia and bulimia are also on the rise in
the male population. In other words, no individual is exempt and
no family is immune. The fol