National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025: Every Body Has a Right to Be Heard
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Uncategorized
Empowering Healthcare Leaders to Build Inclusive, Compassionate Care Systems
Published: February 24, 2025
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025 spotlights the urgent need to destigmatize eating disorders and advance early intervention strategies across all healthcare settings. With the theme “Every Body Has a Right to Be Heard”, this week reminds leaders that disordered eating does not discriminate—affecting individuals of all genders, ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), 28.8 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Yet many remain undiagnosed due to stigma, lack of training, or inaccessible services. Hospital and health system executives must foster environments where primary care teams, behavioral health professionals, and community stakeholders collaborate. Establishing screening protocols and incorporating trauma-informed care principles are crucial steps toward reversing this trend. Therefore, executive leadership must prioritize whole-person care models that acknowledge the complex biopsychosocial nature of eating disorders.
From a systems-level perspective, addressing eating disorders requires more than traditional clinical care—it calls for executive decision-making that addresses prevention, education, and equity. Partnering with organizations such as Project HEAL and the Academy for Eating Disorders can offer vital resources to inform policy and program design. Health systems should also consider embedding eating disorder education in medical school curricula and staff training protocols. This strategic investment builds provider competency while reducing diagnostic bias. The Eating Disorder Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado exemplifies integrated care that supports both physical stabilization and mental health recovery. Leadership can also create safe spaces for patient feedback to inform continuous improvement initiatives. Encouraging feedback loops with survivors and patient advocates ensures care delivery evolves with the lived experience. Ultimately, healthcare leaders must go beyond compliance—they must lead with compassion, evidence, and innovation.
Digital innovation has a role to play in expanding access and reducing stigma. AI-enabled mental health screening tools, secure patient portals, and virtual recovery communities offer promising support—especially in rural or underserved regions. Telehealth services at institutions like UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals have extended specialized eating disorder care to young patients across California. Executives must assess how these technologies align with their organization’s mission and population health goals. Creating virtual peer support platforms with clinician moderation can enhance recovery and reduce readmissions. Meanwhile, robust cybersecurity protocols must protect sensitive mental health data. Board-level support for digital equity and infrastructure will be key to ensuring scalable, inclusive solutions. As we shift toward value-based care, supporting the long-term well-being of those living with eating disorders must remain a strategic imperative.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week offers an opportunity for healthcare executives to affirm their commitment to equity, transparency, and healing. This means investing in staff training, supporting evidence-based programs, and dismantling systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing care. It also requires listening—to survivors, to marginalized communities, and to the data. Leaders who create environments of psychological safety empower patients and staff alike to speak freely about difficult issues. With strong governance and thoughtful strategy, health systems can become champions of dignity and recovery. On the path to better outcomes, inclusion must be the default—not the exception. Executives who align organizational culture with compassionate care will redefine what leadership means in behavioral health.
Join us in building healthcare systems where all bodies, stories, and voices are respected. Explore how strategic leadership can promote recovery, equity, and accountability in eating disorder care across the continuum.
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For deeper insight into transforming care environments, read our blog on rebuilding trust in U.S. healthcare through system-wide transparency and trauma-informed strategy.
Internal Links
- Rebuilding Trust in U.S. Healthcare: A Leadership Blueprint
- Trauma-Informed Leadership Strategies for 2025
