Kaitlyn Hughes | features editor |

During her freshman year of high school, Duquesne University sophomore Annaliese See fell under the grip of an eating disorder, allowing it to dictate her every waking moment.

Her days were consumed by meticulously planning meals, counting calories and overanalyzing her appearance.

Eventually, her body gave in.

She was diagnosed with Bradycardia, a slowed heart rate caused by her disorder.

This life-threatening occurrence set her on the path of recovery.

She now volunteers for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and served as a co-coordinator for the Pittsburgh NEDA walk.

“I’ve always wanted to give back to my community and see what I could do more for eating disorders and eating disorder awareness,” See said. “Eating disorders are something that are kind of on the back burner, and it’s not spoken about. We need more awareness.”

The sun was beaming and the air was crisp as a group of all ages gathered at Schenley Plaza in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood for this year’s walk on Oct. 19.

Since 2009, NEDA walks have brought together more than 25,000 people throughout the country to fight eating disorders, according to their website. Walkers raise money to fund eating disorder education, prevention and support.  

The Pittsburgh walk surpassed their original fundraising goal of $25,000, accumulating about $28,800 for NEDA.

Attendees listened to speakers share their stories and took part in a stretch before they embarked on their march around the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh.

Martha Watson, a member of NEDA’s board of directors, shared the story of her daughter, Elizabeth, who underwent a 10-year battle with Anorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder that causes a fear of gaining weight.

Elizabeth died in 2016 due to complications related to her disorder, which sparked Watson’s advocacy journey. She now raises awareness and money for those experiencing eating disorders.

“Eating disorders are really misunderstood. They’re also underfunded compared to other diseases, and there’s a lot of stigma around it,” Watson said. “The more we talk about mental health issues, the more people understand that these are real diseases.”

Studies show that at least 9% of the American population are impacted by an eating disorder, according to the Toledo Center for Eating Disorders.

The work Watson does to show support for the cause has been a healing process, she said.

“Learn as much as you can. It’s really important to give support to people that have an eating disorder,” Watson said. “Don’t judge. Be supportive.”

Samantha Salz, a co-coordinator of the walk, battled Anorexia Nervosa the past 10 years. She is currently in recovery.

Salz said she is doing better because of support systems such as NEDA.

“I never would have even said I had an eating disorder three or four years ago, and the fact that I’m in a place now where I cannot only own my recovery journey but use my experience to help others in a profound, front-facing way,” Salz said. “It really just is a surreal experience.”

The goal of the walk was to not only raise money, but to raise awareness for a cause that people have many misconceptions about, Salz and See said.

“To finally shed light and bring awareness to this unspoken topic, I think it’s absolutely vital,” See said.

See experienced the loneliness and depression of an eating disorder, crying by herself in her room.

She gave advice to those battling with their disorder in silence

“There really is light at the end of the tunnel,” See said. “It’s a long road. Recovery is not linear. It is honestly a full time job, but once you start putting your mind to it and start recovering, you actually start living again.”

Salz added that everyone’s recovery and eating disorder experience is different.

“Don’t compare yourself,” Salz said.

Participants attended the walk for a multitude of reasons.

Some in support of their loved ones, others in support of themselves.

Gema Stover has been struggling with an eating disorder for more than three years and is currently in recovery.

She said it was important for her to attend the walk because she is supporting others who are undergoing similar journeys to her own.

Stover said myths about eating disorders being a form of weight loss or trying to stay healthy are not true.

“You can’t control the thoughts in your head a lot of the time,” Stover said. “So talking about it and having more of an open conversation really helps the stigma.”