Healthcare - 4.13.26

4.13.26 - Healthcare

One issue that is not talked about nearly enough is healthcare in relation to eating disorders. I am not placing blame on any one individual, but I strongly believe that countless young women, including myself, are often failed by the medical system when it comes to recognizing and treating eating disorders.

Early in my experience, it was easy to hide my disorder under the label of being “extremely active.” I had always been active, and both my family and doctors knew that. So when I began to lose weight, it was attributed to my activity level. When my blood pressure dropped, it was seen as a result of working out frequently. When I lost my period, it was dismissed as something “normal for highly active women”, which, spoiler alert, it is not.

My primary care physician had multiple opportunities to recognize the warning signs of a potential eating disorder, yet I was written off as just another active teenager. This is not to place blame on her, but rather to highlight a larger issue within the healthcare system.

Research shows that many physicians receive inadequate training when it comes to eating disorders. In one study, among many, “Among internal medicine programs that did provide formal training, a mean of only 1.9 hours total were provided across 3 years of residency” (Eddy et al., 2022). This lack of education is reflected across numerous studies and ultimately impacts thousands of patients worldwide.

This is why, in addition to Fuel Her Fully, I am committed to advocating for more comprehensive education and training for medical professionals on eating disorders. Greater awareness and understanding within the healthcare system can lead to earlier intervention, better support, and ultimately, more lives saved.