National Eating Disorder Awareness Week: Nourishing Body, Mind, and Spirit
Eating Disorders in Native Communities
Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Among AI/AN populations, eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors are often underdiagnosed and overlooked, yet research shows elevated risk due to trauma, food insecurity, poverty, and mental health stressors. Eating disorders also have one of the highest mortality rates among mental health conditions.
Disordered Eating and Its Roots
Disordered eating may include:
● Restrictive eating
● Binge eating
● Emotional eating
● Chronic dieting
● Shame or anxiety around food
Historical trauma, forced dietary changes, loss of traditional food systems, and exposure to highly processed foods have disrupted healthy relationships with food in many Native communities.
Signs and Support
Warning signs include sudden weight changes, skipping meals, obsession with food or body image, and social withdrawal. Recovery is possible with:
● Culturally sensitive mental health care
● Trauma-informed approaches
● Community support and education
● Reconnection to traditional food knowledge and practices
Mental Health, Food Access, and Disordered Eating in Urban Native NYC Communities
Urban Native individuals in NYC often face high food costs, limited access to affordable nutritious foods, chronic stress, and housing instability, all of which can contribute to disordered eating patterns. While mental health services exist, AI/AN-informed and culturally safe care remains limited, leading to underdiagnosis and unmet needs. Community-based, culturally grounded outreach is essential to support healing and restore balanced relationships with food and body.
Call to Action
During National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Native communities are encouraged to break stigma, seek help early, and support holistic wellness that honors physical, mental, emotional, and cultural well-being.
