For individuals and families grappling with eating disorders, the impacts can infiltrate all areas of daily life. As we recognize World Eating Disorders Action Day on June 2, we focus on building awareness, developing understanding and knowing that there is hope for healing.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, about 30 million people in the country will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Contrary to widespread belief, eating disorders can and do affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, body shapes and weights. In fact, around one third of those suffering from eating disorders are men.

There are several specific types of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica and rumination disorder. These disorders are all in some way associated with preoccupations with food, weight, shape or anxiety around food or eating.

It is important to acknowledge that eating disorders are not the result of a choice, but rather are mental and physical illnesses. While there is no definitively known cause, research strongly suggests that there are biological, psychological and sociocultural factors involved. These can include things like genetic vulnerabilities, distorted body image, body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, behavioral rigidity, teasing or bullying, history of trauma and even society’s stigma around weight. Eating disorders also commonly occur alongside other psychiatric conditions like anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsiveness and substance abuse.

There are significant possible symptoms and health consequences of eating disorders. Depending on the specific disorder, these can include emotional, behavioral, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological and other physical problems. In addition, the risk of suicide is greatly elevated among those with eating disorders. Given the broad scope of potential complications, it’s no wonder that eating disorders, and anorexia specifically, have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Conversely, when appropriately treated early, eating disorders have the highest and fastest recovery rates.

When it comes to recognizing the warning signs of an eating disorder in yourself or others, it is important to consider emotional, physical and behavioral concerns. These can include excessive dieting, obsessing about weight, appearing uncomfortable to eat around others, regularly skipping meals, frequent vomiting, withdrawal from friends or activities, extreme mood swings, difficulties concentrating, dizziness or fainting and excessive exercise routines. If you suspect you or a loved one might be struggling with an eating disorder, it is important to seek professional guidance. Effective treatments, from outpatient therapy to residential or inpatient care, will bring together the individual with a support system of professionals, family, friends and other social supports to address the psychological, behavioral, physical and social factors that are contributing to the eating disorder.

While efforts to increase awareness and extinguish the stigma around eating disorders have grown in recent years, the reality is that rates of eating disorders have increased dramatically over the past several decades. This may be at least in part due to our culture’s increasing, unhealthy focus on weight, body size and shape, fitness and dieting. As we work to support those struggling with eating disorders, whether ourselves or others, it is vital that we avoid judgement and address not only the symptomatic relationship with food itself, but also reduce unhealthy obsessions with physical appearance that are often driven by artificial and unrealistic manipulations and are inextricably and detrimentally connected to self-esteem. Once unraveled, we can focus individually and culturally on building self-worth and self-esteem from within, as is often the case as we strive for greater mental health and well-being.