Addressing the Spectrum of Disordered Eating
Eating disorders are often misunderstood – from believing them to be a lifestyle choice, to thinking they primarily impact people of a particular age, race, or income level, many people don’t view them as the serious mental health conditions that they are. Even people who don’t meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder can still have disordered eating behaviors that should be addressed.
These misconceptions have very real consequences – people can’t seek help if they aren’t aware of the problem, and while less than one third of individuals experiencing eating disorders are able to access care, eating disorders remain the second deadliest mental health condition. Understanding the realities of eating disorders and disordered eating habits is key to identifying and addressing symptoms and to seeking help. While everyone’s mental health journey is different, it’s never too late to recover.
In honor of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, join Mental Health America and National Alliance for Eating Disorders for this free, 60-minute webinar where we will explore:
- Different eating disorders, what they look like, and who they impact;
- The blurred lines between diagnosable eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors; and
- Developing and healing from eating disorders at all stages of life.
This webinar will be recorded and available to the public within one week. We do not offer CEUs, but certificates of attendance will be available upon request after the event.
Meet the Speakers
Johanna Kandel (she/her) founded The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (formerly The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness) after recovering from a ten-year-long battle with various eating disorders. Since founding The Alliance in October 2000, Johanna has brought information and awareness about eating disorders to hundreds of thousands of individuals nationally and internationally. In addition, she facilitates weekly support groups, mentors individuals with eating disorders and their families through their treatment and recovery, and helps thousands of people to gain information and find the help they need. As a passionate advocate for mental health and eating disorders legislation, Johanna has spent a lot of time meeting with numerous members of Congress and was part of the first-ever Eating Disorder Roundtable at the White House.
Johanna is a proud member of the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) Meeting under the Department of Health and Human Services, a member of the Board of Directors for the Eating Disorders Coalition, and a member of the Eating Disorders Leadership Summit. She has received many awards for her ongoing outreach and advocacy work, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service©, Academy for Eating Disorders’ Meehan/Hartley Leadership Award for Public Service &/or Advocacy, and Harlequin Enterprises’ More Than Words Award. Johanna has appeared on national television programs including NBC Nightly News and The Today Show, and profiled in the New York Times, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Glamour Magazine.
Betsy Brenner, author of The Longest Match: Rallying to Defeat an Eating Disorder in Midlife, believes it is never too late to heal from past trauma and in mid-life became healthier in body, mind, and spirit. In her 2021 memoir, Betsy details her life, one filled with blessings and privilege, but also with emotional trauma, grief, and loss. Her past challenges contributed to the development of an eating disorder in midlife which was ultimately the catalyst for healing. Her important message is that it’s never too late to be a work in progress. Betsy is an author, recovery speaker, and peer support mentor. A graduate of Brown University and American University Law School, Betsy was a nationally ranked tennis player, hospital attorney, hospice volunteer, and high school tennis coach. She and her husband, Jeff, reside in Barrington, Rhode Island, and are the parents of three grown children.