Colorado advocates use week to raise awareness about eating disorders

February 28, 2025

Denver 7News sheds a light on the seriousness of eating disorders and the importance of raising awareness in this segment for Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Here, ERC alumni Erin shares her recovery story and ERC Regional Vice President Jeana Cost highlights different treatment options available.

DENVER — Nearly 29 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. It also reports that more than 10,000 deaths a year are caused by eating disorders.

That is why advocates are working to spread the word during Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which runs from Feb. 24 through March 2.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week runs from Feb. 24 through March 2.

Erin O'Connell struggled to recognize the eating disorder that was plaguing her. She told Denver7 she would tell herself, "I don't have an eating disorder, I'm just getting my body the way I want it. People are allowed to do that, right?"

After some time, O'Connell's friends encouraged her to get help.

"I had collapsed at work a couple times, like fainted, passed out," she said. "It wasn't even until the tail end of the four months and my first time in treatment where I was like, 'Oh, I have an eating disorder.'"

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