About this course
Eating disorders impact people of all ages, shapes, sizes, genders and all races and ethnicities. US population-based studies regularly report that Latina, Native American, and Black teens are more likely to experience binge eating and purging than White peers. Among the LGBT population, eating disorders are reported at significantly higher rates.
It is also demonstrated that poverty disproportionately impacts these sub-groups across the population. Given that poverty significantly impacts food security and these groups are more likely to experience poverty and eating disorder behaviors, it is critical to assess food security when working with people with eating disorders.
Research with food bank participants indicates those with the least food security, particularly those with children in the household, reported the highest levels of binge eating, overall ED pathology, dietary restraint, weight self‐stigma, and worry compared to those with more food security (Becker, 2017; Becker 2019, Middlemass, 2020).
What should we take from these findings and statistics and bring into our counseling rooms? We need to awareness, screening, and resources. This presentation will encompass an overview of what is known about eating disorders and food insecurity to date, how to screen for food insecurity, how to connect clients and families to resources, and how to incorporate food insecurity into the array of factors that impact recovery from an eating disorder.
