Humpday Health: Walk to combat eating disorders this weekend

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Walking to combat what professionals call the deadliest mental illness: eating disorders. That’s the cause that people will gather for at Wrightsville Beach Park this Saturday.

“My hope for this event is not only to provide support for people struggling, but show them that they’re not alone and that there’s other people out there that are going through the same thing,” said walk coordinator Lauren Hill.

Walks to support the National Eating Disorders Association have happened in cities around the country, but this will be the first one in the Wilmington area.

According to NEDA, 20 million women and 10 million men in the United States will suffer from an eating disorder at some time in their life.

“We’re gonna have lots of different resources for people to connect with. Local counseling resources, state treatment centers, and then also treatment centers from across the country,” Hill said.

Hill is a Wilmington native who has fought eating disorders during her life. She’s recovered and now wants to help those struggling in her hometown.

“Coming out the other side, I felt a lot of hope and that’s what ignited my passion to be an advocate and do these kind of events to show other people, not only that there’s other people out there struggling, but that there’s people that beat this,” Hill said.

If you want to come out and be a part of Saturday’s walk, you can register in person or online.