EDAW 2024

Did you know 10% of the calls for help we received last year were from people affected by ARFID?

This has increased sevenfold over the past five years. You can help us to be there when people affected by eating disorders need us.

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Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) 2024 | 26 February - 3 March 2024

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is a vital opportunity to raise awareness of eating disorders. And in 2024 we shone a light on a condition we know doesn't always get the recognition it deserves: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

There has been a sevenfold increase in calls to our Helpline for help with ARFID over the past five years. In 2018, our Helpline received 295 calls for support with ARFID, or 2% of total calls. By 2023, this figure had risen to 2054 calls, or 10% of its total calls for the year.

To better understand ARFID we gathered insight from those affected by ARFID to inform our campaign. The overriding theme from those who completed our survey was that they want you to know that ARFID is more than fussy or picky eating. This week we will be posting content from the ARFID community to show the realities of living with ARFID. Read how we developed the awareness campaign this year, follow us on social or sign-up to our emails to find out more.

You can get involved by watching Joe's story - and spreading the word that #WeAreNotBeingFussy.

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"In a world bursting with flavours our plates are full of challenges, not choices.

There’s so much we want to tell you about how ARFID affects and impacts our whole lives.

We’re not fussy. We don’t choose to avoid or restrict food. Some of us can’t stomach tastes and textures. Some of us are afraid we might choke.

Other people seem to enjoy the build up to a meal. We can’t think of anything worse.

Food is a battle that extends way past the dining table. It can follow us everywhere, from the supermarket to work or school.

Even after mealtimes, there isn’t any respite because the fight for recognition and access to treatment is a long way from being won.

And then we’re told that this could also seriously damage our health.

Avoiding the thing that’s supposed to keep you alive isn’t something people easily understand. So, we usually hide our struggles to avoid the judgement, stigma and the endless questions and suggestions.

For us, every bite can be a battle.  "

#WeAreNotBeingFussy

Hear from those affected by ARFID