Something happened this morning in a nondescript "multipurpose room" on the campus of Pace University that could end up saving (literally) tens of thousands of lives. The Stop Obesity Alliance, the National Eating Disorders Association and key members of the media – three groups over the years have often been at odds – met to discuss long-awaited. The theme? How can the three groups come together for the greater good and talk about weight and health of a new and better. I was there, in part, because I'm sort of a walking, breathing chimera of the three groups. I am recovering from binge eating disorder (BED) and obesity (she weighed 225 pounds in college, when my binge was at its worst), and I am also an editor of long-term health in Glamour magazine. I have covered the health risks of obesity, nutrition and weight loss smart healthy – among many other female health issues – for years. And perhaps because of my personal history out of bed, I often wondered why (my God, why?) More obesity research and discussion of the obesity epidemic did not focus on "waste" of eat. Of course not, obesity is an eating disorder, but it is undeniable that many people who are obese have a! Research has found that 10 to 15 percent of mildly obese people have a bed, and has informed us that many, many more involved in episodes of binge eating. And we know from other research that creates real overeating physiological changes in the brain that further strengthen the binge eating, and therefore more depression, weight gain, obsession, diet and, ultimately, binge again. Except for patients lucky enough to be seen by major institutions respected treatment of obesity, most obese people are treated by the physical and tangible causes of their illnesses – but not emotional and mental roots. Me and a couple of young women who have recovered from eating disorders were talking after the panel on bariatric surgery and LapBand. These treatments have done wonders in terms of reductions in the severity of diabetes and heart risk, and no doubt of its medical value. But that does not speak often – especially in nasty ads you see on the subway in New York for "weight loss quick and easy" through surgery – is that a percentage of people to gain or even all the weight back. Why do you think? Because the core issues – childhood trauma, an inherited tendency toward binge eating, using food as an emotional coping mechanism, and even binge eating disorder – Have not been addressed. I started my recovery, at the age of 15 after reading "Feeding the Hungry Heart" by Geneen Roth – and continued through psychotherapy and support groups binge while I was in college, he moved to New York I began my career nine years ago as an assistant at Glamour. Many people in recent years I have wondered if it was difficult to work in a fashion and beauty magazine, while working on these issues. Actually, no. It was power. Why? Because – apart from the fact that I work for a magazine that has proven to be a true admirer and defender of women in all sizes – as a member of the media, we have the potential to make an impact. I've written about my experience with binge eating disorder in a publication that has 13 million readers each month and on glamour.com, and have been able to draw on this experience in the foundation of my site support Young women who eat compulsively, HealthyGirl.org. I have seen the power of a post on a blog can be: We wrote about "eating disorder not otherwise specified" in a story in the March issue of the journal, and I blogged about it on glamour.com. I have emails from girls who did not even know there was a name for what was going on – not to mention the fact that they could get help and get better! – Until I read about it in a short little post on the site. In a culture that is so strange food and overweight as it once was about sex, just talking about the links between obesity, eating disorders and the media at all – such as the National Association Disorders Food and Stop Obesity Alliance, Newsweek, CBS News and Glamour did today – it's an incredible first step. The idea that we can change things has never felt more true to me that this moment: With a family that has been first in health and nutrition as one of its key issues, with groups large and powerful as obesity and NEDA eventually join the alliance, with models like Coco Rocha Crystal Renn and talk about their own struggles with eating disorders, I have never been so sure we're on track. I will end with a line from one of my favorite songs from Beck (you know this, let us sing with me): "Things will change, I can feel it!" Sunny Sea Gold is the articles editor, health , at Glamour magazine and the founder of HealthyGirl.org, a site for young women emotionally overeat. She is working on a self-help book for the same population to be published by Berkley Books in May 2011.