SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. It’s the number one cause of death among all mental health illnesses and affects lives emotionally, socially, and physically.

Victus Counseling owner and Clinical Therapist specializing in eating disorder treatment Faith Carlson explained the warning signs as, “You’re really gonna be looking at mood changes, at behavior changes, and you’re going to start to see a lot of isolation or rigidity. When I think of the medical side of it, labs will be off, GI, those will all be off. Then, when I think of the social side of it, they’re not engaging, there’s a lot of heightened anxiety or debility just because it’s such an overwhelming diagnosis.”

Stereotypically, it’s believed that only girls and young women experience eating disorders, but that’s not the case.

“It affects all ages. The youngest I’ve worked with is six years old. My oldest I’ve worked with is within their 70s. It’s men, it’s female, it’s all genders and there’s diversity. It impacts everybody,” Carlson said.

While an eating disorder doesn’t have a specific look, times like National Eating Disorder Awareness Week bring us an opportunity to educate ourselves on the topics.

“As a society, if we can recognize that we don’t need to comment on other people’s bodies, on other people’s foods, on other experiences or images… if you don’t know what to say, it’s best not to say anything,” Carlson said.

There are multiple resources available to help treat an eating disorder, but Faith also recommends identifying somebody in your life as a safe person. This individual can help you manage the struggles an eating disorder presents.

“A malnourished mind doesn’t know how to do all these critical steps. So, if you can identify one person who you feel like you can talk to to get the next steps, allowing that other person to get the footwork because their mind is fed and they can kind of multitask and do all that critical thinking,” said Carlson.

During National Eating Disorder Week, which is February 28 through March 2, Victus Counseling is lighting The Falls blue and green to draw awareness to this mental health illness.

For more information on eating disorders or for those seeking help, click here.