By LAUREN METZGER
Published: May 8, 2014

NEDA Walk on National Mall

On April 27^th, members of the UNC ANGI team were at the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Walk in Washington D.C. The event was one of over 50 NEDA Walks held around the country each year, and their popularity is growing! Started in 2009, NEDA Walks have raised over $2 million dollars for the cause. People from around the DC community participated to bring awareness to eating disorders and show their support. Actor and activist, Benjamin O’Keefe was the keynote speaker and he emphasized how inspiring it was to be holding the event in the nation’s capital – a place where groundbreaking policy changes have been cultivated for so many years. By sharing his own struggle with anorexia, he helped further shed light on the fact that boys and men can, and do, suffer from eating disorders. This message is increasingly important to spread, and particularly excited the UNC team since the ANGI research study, which is focusing on uncovering the genetics behind anorexia nervosa, is open to men and women. We wanted to make it clear that anyone, regardless of sex or gender, was welcome at our table. We gave out brochures, pins, stickers, and fliers.  It was exciting to meet people who had already participated and wanted to spread the word to their friends and family.  We look forward to participating in our next NEDA Walk and showing our support!

Lauren Metzger and Janna Howard