Meagan Kirby-McDowell grew up right outside the nation’s capital, with some of the best hospitals and physicians in the country. But, as the child of a service member, she still faced barriers to eating disorder care.

Project HEAL and SEA WAVES Bridge Gaps in Access to Eating Disorder Care in the Military Community

Healing our relationship with food and our body is not a straight path—it can be filled with waiting lists, insurance hurdles, and discouraging moments. But finding the right care, the right provider, the right fit is possible, and it's worth holding on for. Healing is possible.

Accessing care for eating disorders involves navigating barriers that stand in the way of individuals seeking help, receiving appropriate treatment, or fully engaging in their recovery process. Breaking down these barriers begins with deconstructing stigmas, spreading awareness and education, and increasing treatment access.  

This HEAL Week, we wish to spotlight the barriers to care and have critical conversations that often go unshared. Everybody deserves recovery, and no one should have to fight for their treatment.  

When her food rules and fears threatened her ability to continue dancing, Kayleigh Carlos accepted that she needed help. Now, her recovery journey has given her purpose and meaning: mentoring other young dancers.

Barriers to care for trans individuals seeking help for disordered eating run deep—ranging from a lack of affirming providers and gender-inclusive treatment spaces to stigma and misinformed assumptions about who struggles with eating disorders. Everyone deserves access to compassionate, inclusive care, but too often, these hurdles leave trans folks navigating healing alone.

In recognition of Weight Stigma Awareness Week, Project HEAL Clinical Assessment Program Manager Stephanie Alberts shares her perspective on why our society is failing to prevent, diagnosis and treat eating disorders- and why weight stigma is to blame

As Weight Stigma Awareness Week approaches (and always!), it's important to acknowledge the limitations of the body positivity movement. In this blog, Lindley Ashline dives into the difference between body positivity and body liberation, and tips for growing into a body liberationist.

Finding some way to make sense of unfortunate life circumstances—like an eating disorder—can often help you determine how to move forward. For Natasha Brendle, that way was through chemistry's "triple point" phenomenon.

There’s a lot of talk on social media about how to stop thinking about food—to quiet the food noise. Here’s what the professionals have to say about that.

In a culture that values some bodies while shaming others, we desperately need a way to dismantle and rebuild. Body Trust®, a framework created by Dietitian Dana Sturtevant and Therapist Hilary Kinavey, provides the necessary structure, support, and guidance for this difficult but liberating journey. In this blog, Certified Body Trust Specialist, Heidi Andersen, provides an overview of the framework and explains how it supports eating disorder healing.

Wellness culture has made exercise bulimia look “normal” — and yet it’s anything but. Learn more about what it is and how to tell if you need support.

Pervasive confusion and lack of information about ARFID may lead many people, like Gilchriest, to doubt if they really have an illness at all. But the truth is, ARFID is a very serious eating disorder, even though it can differ significantly from more well-known eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia. Read on to learn why ARFID is absolutely an eating disorder—and how to advocate for proper treatment.

When compiling an eating disorder treatment team, most people don’t think to include a pelvic health physical therapist. Dr. Michelle Laging explains the correlation between pelvic floor dysfunction and eating disorders, and how pelvic floor therapy can support the healing process.

We’re lucky to live during a time when finding free mental health apps is easy—but which ones are actually good? We did a little research to find out!

From her first USTA tournament in middle school through college varsity tennis, Project HEAL Volunteer Blog Manager Tara Criscuolo’s self-identity became intertwined with her performance on the court. While she had natural athleticism and learned skill, Tara’s untreated anxiety disorder quickly became an unanticipated and devastating hidden opponent.

We know that diet culture and eating disorders are connected. But let’s talk about how you can minimize the impact to avoid the associated mental health challenges.

When eating disorder thoughts occupy our brain, we have less space in our minds for things that truly matter, such as our family, friends, school, work, and other activities and meaningful interests. But, as Eve Yang now knows, there is life after an eating disorder.

Find the BIPOC mental health support you need to feel understood, facilitate healing, or simply connect with like-minded folks.