Ending the Stigma Surrounding Anorexia: A Conversation with Judy Krasna (122)

Today’s episode deals with the very difficult topic of eating disorders from the perspective of a parent, as Judy Krasna tells the personal story of her child’s battle with anorexia nervosa. Some may wonder how this topic is relevant to a podcast that deals with issues within Orthodoxy. While Scott and Judy also discuss specifically Orthodox manifestations of anorexia, the issue of eating disorders frankly concerns Orthodox Jews primarily because we are no more immune to them than any other population. Indeed, some Orthodoxy communities may have additional challenges in their desire to cover it up, to pretend that it’s not a problem. Quite apart from our religious background, we need to confront the reality of eating disorders because, as Judy says at the end of the podcast, they affect so many people. We need to talk about eating disorders in order to eliminate the stigma associated with them. They are illnesses, and they are illnesses that involve tremendous pain, suffering, and sometimes death. We treat them as something other than illnesses at our own peril. Judy Krasna is the Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T.(Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders - https://www.feast-ed.org/). She is a writer and an eating disorders advocate, both in Israel and globally. Judy is an active “expert by experience” volunteer in the Academy for Eating Disorders and has been offering peer support to families of people with eating disorders for over a decade. Judy is deeply committed to educating the public about eating disorders and promoting awareness about their danger and consequences, especially after her daughter Gavriella took her own life after a prolonged battle with anorexia nervosa. Judy may be reached at judy@feast-ed.org. Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108). Thanks to all of our Patreon subscribers, who have access to bonus JCH podcasts, merch, and more - we appreciate your help, and hope you really enjoy the extras! Visit the JCH Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse. Check out https://jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit https://www.jchpodcasts.com/ to learn all about creating your own podcast. Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com