"This is not your fault. There are many things at play from genetics to society. But at its core, eating disorder behaviors are what people are pushed to on a normal, daily basis. And so we need to remove the shame and instead move with vulnerability and give ourselves grace to acknowledge that this is a real thing that many people battle. But if we fight together, we can win that battle."

Benjamin O'Keefe's journey was far from the stereotypical experience of someone with an eating disorder. He grew up in poverty where accessing healthcare was a luxury he couldn't afford. His difficulty accessing care was compounded by the fact that he was black, male, and overweight. What began as a conscious decision to lose weight spiraled out of control and took over his life. The realization that he had an eating disorder was a gradual process, and it took a lot of effort to seek out resources and understand what was happening to him.

Tune into this episode of the Equipped to Recover podcast series hosted by Kristina Saffran to hear how Benjamin used his lived experience to became a social change activist and political thought leader holding retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch accountable for discrimination against plus-sized and BIPOC customers.

Click here for SHOW NOTES - Eating Disorders Don't Have a "Look" with Benjamin O'Keefe

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