Pregnancy is often portrayed as a time of glowing skin, growing bellies, and anticipation—but what comes after can be far more complicated, especially when it comes to a mother’s relationship with her body and food.

For many women, the postpartum period brings emotional upheaval, hormonal shifts, and an entirely new identity. It’s a time of physical recovery, sleep deprivation, and learning how to care for a newborn—yet few people talk about how all of this can interact with something even deeper: disordered eating.

Eating disorders don’t discriminate. But our systems, our healthcare, and even our cultural understanding of eating disorders often do. So, let’s talk about the reality: LGBTQIA+ folks are disproportionately affected by eating disorders, and yet they’re also more likely to fall through the cracks when it comes to diagnosis and support.

When we talk about food insecurity, we’re talking about:

• Stressing that there won’t be enough food tomorrow

• Skipping meals or stretching out what little you have

• Opting for cheaper, less nutritious foods

And when these conditions persist, they can fuel or intensify ED behaviors like restriction, bingeing, or compulsive control.

Eating disorders are often just seen as an issue where someone can’t/doesn’t want to eat food. To anyone with an eating disorder, this statement underscores the reality of what it’s like to live with one. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are talking about how eating disorders impact brain functioning and why, for many reasons, recovery is not as simple as just eating more food.  

Happy Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025! Today, we are sharing a round-up of all things eating disorder awareness! Want to learn more about eating disorders? Looking to better understand treatment options for yourself or a loved one? Click on the following links for in-depth resources on each topic