Eating Disorders Awareness Week is taking place Feb. 5 to 11.
The Waterloo-Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition is taking part in a number of community events designed to raise awareness about eating disorders.
Events include the Body Image Exposé at the University of Guelph from 10am to 3pm on Feb. 7, and a benefit concert at the Bullring at the University of Guelph from 7 to 9pm on Feb. 9.
Additionally, Guelph Market Square will be lit purple on Feb. 1 to kick off the month.
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the coalition is supporting Wilfrid Laurier University’s “Invest in Yourself” week, from Feb. 6 to 10. The University of Waterloo is also holding an event in support of the week on Feb. 13.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses impacting over half a million Canadians at any given time.
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder have the highest mortality rate among all psychiatric illnesses.
Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, ethno-racial background, socioeconomic status, gender or ability.
Despite this, there is a great deal of stigma and shame around eating disorders, which are often portrayed as choice or vanity, rather than serious illnesses.
Canadians and their families face numerous barriers to receiving appropriate and timely treatment, including a lack of services across the treatment continuum.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week draws attention to the need to break down stigma and stereotypes around eating disorders in order to provide more Canadians access to needed and desired treatment.
At the municipal level, Eating Disorder Awareness means considering how to foster a community in which more people can be well and at ease in their bodies.
Individuals with eating disorders and their families need support, especially in the community, in order to recover, officials say. Recovery is possible, but it requires understanding, patience and support.
The Waterloo-Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition (WWEDC) is a group of professionals – health care and allied professionals and researchers – serving the Waterloo-Wellington community. Its mission is to provide hope to those impacted by eating disorders by engaging in professional development, advocacy, community engagement, education, awareness, service enhancement and training in eating disorders.
During Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the WWEDC invites the community to join in recognizing the seriousness of eating disorders, as well as the hope of recovery, through open and supportive dialogue.
For information about disorders and EDAW 2017 contact Andrea LaMarre at alamarre@uoguelph.ca or 519-993-6435 or Karen McGratten at karen@karenmcgratten.com or 519-341-6079.
