Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is held in early February, but Ontario remains one of the only provinces not to recognize it. In December, Bill 61 2018: An Act to proclaim Eating Disorders Awareness Week was introduced by NDP MP Jill Andrew to remedy this situation.

Eating disorders are defined as insufficient or extreme food consumption that can lead to the destruction of personal well-being. Common forms include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.

"Many people who start out on a diet develop a eating disorder, affecting people of all sizes, races, gender, badual orientation, ethnicity, and age. Eating disorders are considered a mental illness, a genetic component – they can be influenced by the environment and socio-cultural influences, "says Suzanne Dietrich, who defines herself as a non-dietician dietitian.

Anorexia is a condition caused by an intense fear of gaining weight and an unhealthy perception of personal body image. A person with anorexia will limit their food intake, lose weight drastically, and consider themselves overweight. The risks, including death, are highest with this form of disease.

Bulimia involves ingesting large amounts of food, followed by remorseful behavior: vomiting, obsessive exercises, and use of laxatives – sometimes a combination of these factors. The repercussions of the secret behavior include digestive problems, dehydration and heart problems.

Bulimic overeating disorder, unlike bulimia, includes overeating without bleeding. As a result, people with BED can become obese and increase their health risks, including heart disease, respiratory problems and diabetes, among others.

There are no precise figures on the number of people in Waterloo Region who suffer from the disease. Dietrich, who is also a member of the Waterloo Wellington Eating Disorder Coalition, said, "This is one of the things they advocate: research to review and collect this data."

It is important to remember that eating disorders can be treated. Local support includes CMHA, an external support group. Hospital treatment can be found at Homewood, Guelph. There are also local private practitioners specializing in eating disorders. Dietrich adds: "Ideally, an individual needs a full team including a doctor, possibly a psychiatrist, a psychologist and / or social worker, and a dietitian.They also need the support of their family and their family. friends call line which is also useful. "

According to Dietrich, if you think that one of your loved ones is struggling with a eating disorder, you need to consider two important steps:

1. Be aware of the signs and symptoms

• Change in eating habits – what about the amount, type of food, anxiety related to eating habits, healthy eating, monitoring of social networks for the most fat diets or to eat alone.
• Behavior change – concern with weight or body image, tingling, purging symptoms, use of laxatives, social withdrawal.
• Change in activity levels: obsession with exercise
• Change weight, but not always. Eating disorders can occur in all shapes and sizes

2. Approach the person with solicitude and kindness

• Eating disorders have the highest death rate of all psychiatric illnesses
• Express your concern
• If they reject your expression of concern, they may not have defined their behavior as a problem and may not feel ready – this may appear as denial and anger. It is important to be persistent

According to the National Initiative for Eating Disorders (NIED), a study in southern Ontario of 1,739 adolescents found that only 4% of girls who reported excess food and that 6% of the girls who were serving had already been badessed or treated.

You will find a list of local services at the Waterloo Wellington Eating Disorder Coalition.