KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - You may know someone dealing with weight issues. But for millions of men and women, the struggle becomes an eating disorder.

It's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and to shed some light on the disease, a young woman battling the disease hopes to help you or your loved one.

It's taken 20-year-old Margaret Casteel 6 years to talk about her battle with eating disorders. She started dieting in 8th grade.

"That kind of started the obsession with food and I started using food as someone would use a drug for when I was stressed out."

The obsession grew into anorexia and bulimia.

"Often their thinking isn't clear. That puts them at higher risk for this drive for thin-ness," says Karen Wetherall, a registered dietitian who has been working with Margaret for the last year.

"Sometimes that one thing can control in our life is food, so often plays out as trying to gain control in that perspective."

The disorder controlled every aspect of Margaret's life.

"If friends want to go out to eat, then it's like, people are watching me eat, I'm analyzing the food in front of me, I'm not looking at the food the same way my friends are."

She saw physical changes. She was very tired, her clothes didn't fit and she lost her hair.

"It was in the shower, I would notice clumps in the drainage, it was awful."

She was able to hide her disease, but Wetherall says if you think someone has a problem, approach them in a loving, compassionate way.

"If you can really say to a friend or family member, I love you and I'm so concerned I see that it doesn't look to me that you're eating, and I'd really to get you to some professional help."

Finally, Margaret says the feeling of hopelessness was too much to handle and she got help. She says she's now on the road to recovery.

"It is the hardest thing I've ever done, mentally, physically, emotionally, but it's so worth it."

If you know someone that may be struggling with an eating disorder, there is plenty of help available right here in East Tennessee. Click on the links below for information and phone numbers for counselors, registered dietitians and recovery groups.

Cokesbury Methodist Church has a 12 step program. For more information call (865) 693-0353.