Eating disorders awareness week 2026: The power of community in eating disorder recovery

Eating Disorders Awareness Week takes place this year from Monday, 23 February to Sunday, 1 March 2026. The theme, Community, highlights something profoundly important: no one should face an eating disorder alone.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect people of any age, gender, background or body size. They are not a lifestyle choice, a phase, or about vanity. They are complex illnesses that often develop as a way of coping with emotional distress, trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, or a need for control.

Recovery is possible. And connection plays a vital role.

Why community matters

Eating disorders often thrive in secrecy and isolation. Many people struggling feel intense shame, self-criticism or fear of being misunderstood. They may minimise their difficulties or convince themselves they are “not unwell enough” to ask for help.

Community challenges that isolation.

Community can mean:

• A trusted friend who listens without judgement.
• A family member willing to learn and understand.
• A GP who takes concerns seriously
• A therapist trained in eating disorders
• A recovery group where lived experience is shared safely
• A residential treatment setting when a higher level of support is needed
• An online space that promotes support rather than comparison

When someone feels believed, heard and supported, it becomes easier to reach for help.

For families and loved ones, community also matters. Supporting someone with an eating disorder can feel confusing and frightening. Access to accurate information and professional guidance reduces blame and increases compassion on all sides.

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition characterised by distressing thoughts, feelings and behaviours related to food, eating, body shape or weight. These behaviours are not the core issue – they are often attempts to manage overwhelming emotions or internal pressures.

Eating disorders can affect physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships and daily functioning. They frequently coexist with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related difficulties, or substance misuse.

Importantly, you cannot tell whether someone has an eating disorder by looking at them. People of all body sizes can be seriously unwell. Focusing solely on weight can delay recognition and treatment.

Common types of eating disorders

There are several recognised eating disorders. Each person’s experience is unique, and symptoms can vary.

• Anorexia nervosa: A condition involving severe restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted perception of body image. It is associated with significant physical and psychological risk.
• Bulimia nervosa: Characterised by recurrent episodes of feeling out of control around food, followed by behaviours aimed at compensating for eating. Individuals often experience deep shame and secrecy.
• Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Involves repeated episodes of eating accompanied by feelings of loss of control and distress. Unlike bulimia, compensatory behaviours are not regularly present.
• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): When symptoms do not fit neatly into one diagnostic category but still represent serious illness requiring treatment.
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Muscle Dysmorphia: Whilst distinct conditions, both involve obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance and can overlap with disordered eating behaviours.

All eating disorders are serious. All deserve compassionate, specialist care.

The link between eating disorders and other mental health conditions

Eating disorders frequently co-occur with anxiety disorders, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and substance use disorders. In some cases, food-related behaviours develop alongside alcohol or drug misuse as different ways of coping with emotional pain.

This complexity is why specialist, integrated treatment is so important. Addressing only the eating behaviours without exploring underlying emotional drivers often leads to relapse.

For some individuals, outpatient therapy provides sufficient support. For others – particularly where physical health is compromised, symptoms are severe, or home environments feel unsafe or triggering – a structured residential programme may be clinically recommended. Residential treatment can offer medical monitoring, nutritional rehabilitation, intensive psychological therapy and the safety of a contained therapeutic environment.

Recovery involves far more than normalising eating patterns. It involves rebuilding self-worth, emotional regulation, identity, and relationships.

The importance of early support

The earlier support is accessed, the better the long term outcomes tend to be. However, people can and do recover at any stage of illness.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone you love:

• Speak to a GP or qualified healthcare professional.
• Reach out to a specialist eating disorder service.
• Contact a trusted friend or family member.
• Access national support organisations such as BEAT in the UK, which provide helplines and online support.
• Consider whether a higher level of care, including residential treatment, may be appropriate if symptoms feel overwhelming or unsafe to manage alone.

Seeking help is not overreacting. It is an act of courage.

Building recovery through connection

Recovery is rarely linear. There may be progress, setbacks and periods of doubt. This is normal.

Community strengthens resilience by:

• Reducing shame
• Normalising vulnerability
• Providing accountability with kindness
• Offering role models of recovery
• Supporting families in understanding the illness

At Ibiza Calm, we recognise that eating disorders are rarely just about food. They often intersect with trauma, perfectionism, relationship dynamics, addiction, and long-standing patterns of self-criticism.

Our multidisciplinary team provides evidence-based psychological therapies within a calm, confidential environment. For individuals requiring more intensive support, our residential treatment programme offers structured daily therapy, medical oversight where required, nutritional guidance, and a contained space away from external pressures. For others, outpatient or step-down care may be appropriate.

We work not only with individuals but also with families, recognising that sustainable recovery is strengthened by a supportive network.

With support, recovery is possible

Eating disorders can feel overwhelming, both for the person experiencing them and for those who love them. But recovery is possible.

With the right support, whether that is community-based therapy, family involvement, peer groups, or residential treatment when clinically indicated, people rebuild their relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves. They reconnect with friends, rediscover interests, and regain a sense of freedom that the illness once narrowed.

This Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the message is simple:

• Community saves lives.
• Connection reduces shame.
• No one has to do this alone.

If you would like to speak confidentially about treatment options in Spain, including whether residential care may be appropriate, please contact sharon@ibizacalm.com.

Reaching out may feel daunting – but it can be the first step towards recovery.