SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly one in 10 Utahns will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives, Harvard University data shows. That’s why a local nonprofit is trying to combat eating disorders by changing the way Utahns think about food and their bodies.
“About 28.8 million Americans struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. And in Utah, that’s about 9% of the population,” said Olivia Ellis, organizational director of Every Body Retreat.
Works on the prevention of eating disorders
Every Body Retreats is a nonprofit organization run by six women who all had their own, different struggles with eating disorders and body image. The women realized that there were many treatment programs in Utah, but no prevention programs, so they now host retreats, book clubs, lectures, and panel discussions to teach people how to develop healthier attitudes toward food and body image.
They teach that eating is intuitive and that we should eat what our bodies are craving in moderation, because food is not inherently good or bad. They also focus on why our bodies are important and valuable, beyond how they look.
“Instead of focusing on having a flat stomach because that’s what’s in right now, we should focus on all the wonderful things our stomachs do for us,” Ellis said.
Every Body Retreat tries to get their message out to the people who are most at risk, so they try to speak in schools, universities, dance camps and the like. They speak to both students and their parents because they say the way we think about food and our bodies can sometimes be generational and those mindsets are hard to break. Ellis and her own mother struggled with that.
“Even though she tried to stop us from developing the same attitude, it’s really, really hard not to pass that on to your own children,” Ellis said.
They also host Moab retreats a few times a year to provide a getaway with speakers and a support system. The next one is in September. You can learn more or donate to their cause by visiting everyoneretreats.com or following the organization on Instagram.
Heather Peterson is a reporter and producer for KSL NewsRadio. She also produces Utah’s Noon News.
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