Emily Kwong

Kweisi Lee was the audio engineer.

I'm Emily Kwong.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Maria Friedman is truly one of the coolest 17-year-olds I've ever met.

We started talking a year ago because she wanted advice on how to start a podcast.

We both developed an eating disorder in middle school.

Eating disorders among teenagers skyrocketed during the pandemic.

Maria's began during the COVID lockdown.

She was cut off from her peers and spending way more time watching TV.

And Maria, who was already struggling with perfectionism and anxiety, started to feel awful about herself.

Eating disorders among teenagers skyrocketed during the pandemic.

For Maria, two servings of pasta became one serving of pasta became no pasta at all.

She had intense exercise goals, all in an effort, in her mind, to become healthier.

They are the neurobiological consequences of an illness that touches all areas of your life.

Pediatrician Eva Trujillo is the president of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

She's also the co-founder of Comenzar de Nuevo, a leading treatment facility in Latin America where patients from all ages and walks of life learn skills and find a way out.

Today on the show, going it not alone with your eating disorder with pediatrician Eva Trujillo.

We talk about how eating disorders affect the brain and the body and answer a question from Maria about how to sustain recovery in a world steeped in diet culture.

I'm Emily Kwong, and you're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Okay, so Dr. Trujillo, you worked with the Academy for Eating Disorders on a list called the nine truths about eating disorders.