TLDR 

The Purpose of An Eating Disorder Symbol:
It helps us raise and spread awareness about eating disorders

An Eating Disorder Symbol Represents:
Organizations like NEDA or ANAD

The Design Behind The Eating Disorder Symbol:
The two lines also represent the curves of the body, alluding to and inducing imagery around eating disorders and how they affect our bodies.

But Why Is Awareness Needed?
Awareness is an important recognition that should be provided to ill conditions, so more people can know about it and can therefore ensure prevention.

The eating disorder symbol does indeed have a specific purpose and it is to raise awareness related to all eating disorders that affect us. As for other conditions such as AIDs or Breast Cancer, you will frequently see people, especially celebrities, wearing the symbol of an eating disorder as a pin to raise and spread awareness about the condition. We’ll now delve into the deeper meaning behind its design:

Why Does Eating Disorder Need Awareness?

Eating disorders are gradually gaining prevalence in the general population. The most common of its afflictions, Anorexia Nervosa – the eating disorder of eating less than what is needed, has been gaining prominence and is considered dangerous because affected people are 18 times more likely to commit suicide due to its affliction. This is why there is a need to raise awareness and spread it like wildfire, which is where the eating disorder symbol comes to the rescue. The unique design has a specific meaning.

Read More: What Causes An Eating Disorder?

The Design Behind The Eating Disorder Symbol

The design was commissioned by the organization NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), a non-profit organization that focuses on raising and uses this easily recognizable symbol of eating disorders as an additional way to raise awareness and of course, provides itself with an identification in the form of a logo.

It can be identified as a stylized heart form from two lines that also represent the curves of the body, alluding to and inducing imagery around eating disorders and how they affect our bodies. While interpretations vary, the official explanation of the logo revolves around how the shorter line represents the eating disorder and the longer line represents the strength we possess to overcome it.

Is There A Similar-Looking Eating Disorder Symbol?

Yes. There is an additional yet similar-looking eating disorder symbol. The difference in that one is that both lines are made of periwinkle-colored ribbon and are associated with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Therefore, this makes it an eating disorder symbol flower. This organization is also a non-profit one and focuses on raising awareness of these conditions. Generally, both of these logos represent eating disorders and how these organizations act as pillars of resilience, courage, and strength by providing awareness to the general population.

Read More: Child Psychiatrist – A Guide For Parents & Guardians

But Why Is Awareness Needed?

Awareness is an important recognition that should be provided to ill conditions, so more people can know about it and can therefore ensure prevention. Eating disorders also have a tendency to rupture genetics, which means it can be part of someone’s family history, which makes awareness of these eating disorders all the more important. A recognizable eating disorder symbol helps us do that and that’s why the organizations, as mentioned above, commission to make unique logos like the eating disorder awareness symbol.

Conclusion

Now you know what an eating disorder symbol or the related eating disorder symbol flower is. They also know how these are important parts of the machine that provide awareness related to eating disorders and also provide recognizable identification of related organizations like the NEDA. One thing you should know is that there is a reason awareness is raised for these eating disorders and treatment is therefore important. For that, our experts at Orange Coast Psychiatry can help! For more information, please refer to our official website.