Chevese Turner

Chevese Turner, (she/her), is an award-winning activist and speaks regularly about her journey with BED, weight stigma, and the need for recognition of and access to care for those with eating disorders. As an internationally recognized activist and advocate, speaker, policy influencer and movement-builder for over 25 years, she dedicates her ability to make significant social changes on issues concerning eating disorders, weight stigma and discrimination, and intersectional social justice.

Turner founded the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) in 2008 and successfully managed its merger with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) in 2018 after 10 years that significantly changed the eating disorders community in both scope and focus. Prior to BEDA and Turner’s work advocating for the inclusion of Binge Eating Disorder (BED) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual’s 5th Edition DSM-5, published in 2013, those struggling with the most common and underdiagnosed eating disorder had little hope of being recognized much less accessing treatment and insurance coverage.

Under Turner’s leadership, BEDA began the important work of creating education, advocacy and support for the BED community. One of the most forward-thinking and pivotal programs created by Turner and the board of directors was BEDA’s Weight Stigma Awareness Week. This powerful event held every September is critical to working toward the elimination of the weight stigma and discrimination that impedes treatment, access-to-care and recovery for those with eating disorders.

Turner is the co-author of Binge Eating Disorder: The Journey to Recovery & Beyond (Routledge, 2018) and contributes regularly to podcasts and the media. She is a past board member of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) and is currently an advisor for Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders (F.E.A.S.T.) and a board director for the Haystack Project.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Chevese Turner is an author with Taylor & Francis and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Chevese Turner serves as a board member for The Haystack Project and is a member of Families Empowering and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders (FEAST) and the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC).