Since joining the military in 2023, I've noticed how the culture of the Navy can encourage eating disorders (EDs). This may seem like a loaded statement, and I want to say that I don't think this encouragement is intentional. In fact, most people in the military don't know much about EDs, and they don't even realize they're contributing to the problem. But as somebody who has struggled with an ED since I was 14, it can be concerning how this environment can contribute to it without knowing. I want to point out different ways I've noticed that my time in service has significantly impacted my ED, as a way to educate others on the topic. I hope this can be used as a way for my fellow service members to understand what can be harmful to somebody struggling with disordered eating. I also hope this is an opportunity for leadership to learn how to support their junior service members.

I want to start off with the most triggering aspect for me. Military culture is hyper-focused on weight and fitness. Part of the enlistment process involves getting weighed, and if your weight is over their standards, it doesn't stop there. Twice a year, we have our Physical Fitness Assessments (PFAs), where we are once again measured. It isn't uncommon for people to go on extreme diets the weeks leading up to the PFA so that they can pass. In fact, people have told me how they intentionally starve themselves so they can be seen as "healthy" during these assessments. But at what costs? Is it really worth it for someone to be within weight standards but can barely function because they've been starving themselves for weeks? Not only is this unhealthy for the individual, but it can also be dangerous to the mission as a whole. When we deprive ourselves of food, our bodies and brains don't function properly. This could lead to a lapse in judgment or somebody not being strong enough to do their job. Our bodies need food, and there shouldn't be shame around eating enough to feel strong, no matter your weight. Somebody with an ED already struggles with feeling insecure about their body size and the amount of food they're consuming. Putting the additional pressure of the weight standards is only going to encourage their disorder.

If it were up to me, I would remove the weight portion of the PFA and focus more on whether our bodies are strong enough to do our jobs. But it's not up to me, and we have to live with these standards (for now at least). Leadership needs to know that many of us feel pressured to meet these standards. While not everyone will develop an ED from this, other mental health risks could arise from the biannual weigh-ins. It's not uncommon for symptoms of depression and anxiety to come up during periods of high stress, especially if there are other areas of life a service member may be struggling with. Leadership should recognize how stress can manifest and take the time to check in with their junior members. Not only will this help our mental health, but our work performance will also improve because we know we are being cared for.

However, I don't want the Navy to then hyper-focus on working out. It is already common in the military to be obsessed with going to the gym and being fit. While there's nothing inherently wrong with the gym or exercise, it is easy to go to extremes. You're praised for having longer workouts and bigger muscles, which encourages people to sacrifice other areas of their lives for fitness. Personally, I became obsessed with running and was clocking in over 100 miles a week. Almost everyone I talked to praised my dedication and was amazed by my ability. I was even compared to David Goggins, the famed Navy SEAL, multiple times. While I'm sure they meant well, nobody was hearing my cry for help, and they were just validating my ED. It's not healthy for someone to be so obsessed with exercise that it affects all other aspects of their life. I couldn't focus on my job or be able to make friends because all I could think about was how much I needed to run. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to this problem other than providing more education about EDs and how they manifest in gym culture. And it's not just me who struggles to find a balance with exercise. In fact, most people struggling with an ED also have a hard time finding joyful movement, or movement that is not compensating for what we've eaten. I think, if more people knew about the seriousness of exercise addiction, they would realize how many people need help. It also allows leadership to support junior members by providing alternative coping strategies besides exercise. While exercise is an amazing tool for mental health, many other strategies can be used as well. I am hopeful that this can help shift the language about exercise and approach it with more moderation.

I will also point out that aspects of the military can be interpreted as fatphobic. Not only is their focus on fitting certain standards, but there is also a lot of bias against those with larger bodies. I can't even count how many times I've heard the phrase "I hate fat people" since being in the military. And it makes me think, do they really hate fat people, or do they hate what fat people are typically associated with? Society in general typically associates fatness with laziness, messiness, and a lack of self-control. But in reality, none of those traits are caused by being in a larger body.

Another thing that fed my ED was the "Go For Green" cards offered in the galley. For those who aren't familiar, the "Go For Green" program helps people determine which foods to use in their meals. It breaks it down into green foods (healthy foods we should eat often), yellow foods (foods we should eat in moderation), and red foods (foods we should limit). Placing moral judgments on food can lead to restrictions and a complex relationship with food in the long run.  And while this might not be triggering for everyone, it affected me.

Furthermore, there are often limited selections in the galley. Oftentimes, I struggle to pick what to eat because I either don't like the options or feel like there are only red foods. I understand that the "Go For Green" was probably created with good intentions, offering guidance on building a balanced plate that will help fuel people in the best way. Still, I think it would have been more helpful for me if the mindset around food were different. I also understand that we don't always get our food preferences. Still, if the military wants to encourage a balanced plate, they need to be able to provide it. My suggestion would be to offer a wider variety of food at meals, so people can create a balanced plate. This will also give people more opportunities to plate their preferences and enjoy their meals. And we shouldn't be made to feel guilty for picking one food over the other.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the limited access to food and time to eat. Galley and dining facilities are only open at specific times, often for only 2 hours, 3 times a day. There are also times when we have to stand watch, or when our duty doesn't allow us to eat. This is not conducive to each individual's hunger cues, whether or not they struggle with an ED. In fact, the limited windows of opportunity to eat only reinforce periods of fasting and restriction, which, in turn, encourage disordered eating. This is why it's so important for leadership to support us and make sure we're being taken care of. Oftentimes, we neglect our needs, and leadership can support us by encouraging us to take time to care for ourselves. Offering more opportunities to visit the galley will reduce service members' stress about food accessibility.

Overall, the biggest support leadership could offer is educating themselves on mental health. Doing research and learning about the service member's condition will create a sense of understanding and a willingness to help. It also takes pressure off the service member, as explaining their struggles can be exhausting. When I struggled with my own mental health, I received support, but I wished there was more knowledge about what I was going through. Mental illness is isolating, and knowing that other people are willing to learn helps it feel less lonely. By Rebecca Fowler, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman (HN)