2023 Eating Disorder Awareness Week Resources

What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are not just about food. They are complex mental health conditions that affect how one sees food and self-image. As a result, eating habits that have a negative impact on physical and mental well-being develop.

Anorexia Nervosa

It is a life-threatening mental illness characterized by behaviours that interfere with maintaining adequate weight.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Irritability, insomnia, and intense preoccupation with food, all of which can be directly related to insufficient nutrition
• Weight loss (or a lack of appropriate weight gain in children)
• Abdominal pain or non-specific gastrointestinal concerns
• Dizziness and/or fainting
• Feeling cold all the time
• Anaemia
• Social withdrawal

Bulimia Nervosa

It is a life-threatening mental illness characterized by periods of food restriction followed by binge eating, with recurrent compensating behaviours such as purging or restriction.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Weight change, including weight loss or weight gain
• Calluses or cuts on the hands and knuckles from purging
• Bloating, dehydration
• Purging, or evidence of purging behaviours like frequent trips to the washroom after meals
• Restricting food intake
• Guilt and anxiety surrounding food or eating
• Concern with body weight or shape

Binge Eating Disorder

It is a condition of psychological distress leading to the frequent consumption of large amounts of food and lack of control over what and how much they are eating.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Changes in body weight
• Dresses in layers or clothing that disguises one’s body shape even when not appropriate for the weather
• Evidence of binge eating, such as the disappearance of food or hoarding of food in secret
• Guilt and anxiety surrounding eating or food

Orthorexia

It is a condition in which the individual is overly obsessed with "clean eating" to the point that it damages their well-being.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Spending a lot of time thinking about food and meal prepping
• Being overly concerned about the origin and quality of food
• Avoiding eating foods made by others and going to social events involving food for fear of being unable to comply with diet
• Refusing to eat foods that are considered “unhealthy” (e.g. animal products, fats, sugar, food colouring, salt)
• Being obsessed with supplements

Eating Disorder Resources in the Guelph Community

The Dangers of Calorie Tracking  

What are Calorie Tracking Apps? 

Calorie-tracking apps work by using your weight to recommend a daily calorie intake. However, the mechanism the apps work on is over-simplified and fails to account for the unique body types, metabolism, and lifestyles of individual users. This can often create a severe discrepancy between the app’s recommended caloric intake and your body’s actual needs. 

Why are they harmful? 

• Calorie-tracking apps are external indicators. 
  • Instead of listening to our natural hunger cues, apps like these push us away from listening to our bodies.  
  • We eat not only for energy and nutrients but also for social purposes and pleasure. Calorie-counting apps reduce our food needs to solely energy purposes and take away from the enjoyment aspects of food. 
• Energy needs are not static. 
  • The amount of food that feels good for you today may feel inadequate tomorrow.  
  • That does not mean that you're doing something wrong. Energy needs vary. It's important to listen to your hunger cues because they reflect your body's needs. 
• They can lead to hyper-control. 
  • The hyper-fixation of food that often results from using calorie-tracking apps can serve as a catalyst for disordered eating behaviours.
  • Many users report severe over-restriction, guilt, and anxiety associated with food when using these apps. 
• They use inaccurate formulas. 
  • Calorie calculators use formulas designed to estimate basal metabolic needs, meaning the number of calories one needs to perform basic life-sustaining functions -- without considering body composition, diet history, medications, genetics, and medical history.  
  • Eating just your basal metabolic needs will shortchange you nutritionally and likely lead to a suppressed metabolism as your body tries to conserve energy. 

Toxic Diet Culture Language 

Diet culture influences how we perceive 'health'. Because we are often told that our bodies need to look a certain way to be 'healthy' and that foods are either 'good' or 'bad', many of us have developed guilt and anxiety related to food. 

“Food is Fuel” Yes, food is energy -- it keeps your heart beating and brain active. But, food is so much more than fuel because our bodies are not machines. Food is a way to connect with family and friends, create memories, celebrate holidays and traditions, as well as relax and unwind. There are many reasons that we eat. 

“I need a cleanse” You do not need to go on a restrictive juice cleanse, eliminate entire food groups, or buy detox supplements to cleanse your body. These are often unsustainable, unregulated, and expensive. Our bodies are naturally equipped with organs, like our kidneys, gut, and liver, that do all the detoxing our body needs. 

“I binge-watched that TV show” The word binge is used so freely in conversation that binge eating disorder has become desensitized. For example, the term 'binge-watching' can be triggering and insensitive to some folks. Binge eating disorder is a mental illness, so we should be conscious of using 'binge' in casual conversation as it can minimize people's experiences. 

“I need a cheat day”  Using the word 'cheat day' perpetuates the 'good' and 'bad' food thinking of diet culture. Classifying foods in this way leads to guilt and shame around consuming 'bad' foods. If no foods are considered 'bad', then the power of a 'cheat day' is no longer there. Balanced eating entails consuming not only a wide variety of foods, but also holding a positive attitude towards food and hunger. 

“I need to burn off that burger” Exercise is not a punishment for eating. Thinking of exercise as a punishment for something that you ate yesterday or drank over the weekend makes us think of food as a reward and fitness as punishment. It is much better to frame exercise as a celebration of what your body can do. Movement should be something that you enjoy. 

Eating Disorder Resources in the Guelph Community

Supporting Yourself as a Caregiver 

Why is Supporting Yourself as a Caregiver Important? 

It can be difficult to be in a position of support for someone with an eating disorder. Whether you’re a parent, friend, or partner, knowing your loved one is dealing with an eating disorder can bring up a lot of upsetting and complicated emotions. 

Self Care 

As a caregiver, prioritizing your own self-care needs in addition to your loved ones can be difficult. Here are some ways you can focus on self-care...  

• Spend time with loved ones 
• Participate in activities you enjoy doing 
• Journal - or write down how you’re feeling 
• Create art 
• Take a mental health day to rest and renew 
• Hydrate and nourish your body with foods you enjoy 

Setting Boundaries 

Setting boundaries will look different depending on your caregiving role. For example, as a family member, this could include disclosing as much or as little information about the situation to extended family and friends. No matter what role you play, it is important to be clear and firm with your boundaries in order to leave space for your own needs. 

Creating a Support System 

Being a caregiver can feel isolating and exhausting and it is important to accept help when it is available. You don't need to or deserve to go through this alone. Creating a support system could look like: 

• Asking friends/family is they can take on some of your workload 
• Asking your employer for adjustments to the way you work (i.e., workload, ability to take emergency calls, etc.) 
• Asking your professor for extensions to deadlines 
• Consider seeking mental health care for yourself - therapy can be useful as it is a dedicated time to focus on your own needs and feelings. 
• Connecting with a support group that specializes in eating disorders directed towards family, friends, and caregivers supporting a loved one.

Eating Disorder Resources in the Guelph Community:

• University of Guelph, Student Wellness Services
  • Dietitian Services: Free resources, workshops and support for students
  • Physician Services: Book an appointment to speak with a doctor on campus
  • Counselling Services: Offers several resources, including both individual and group counselling to support students as they work through personal challenges that affect their ability to succeed at school and in other areas of their lives.  
  • Instagram for Tips all week: @wellness_uofg 
• U of G Eating Disorder Awareness Society Instagram: @uogedawareness 
• National Eating Disorders Information Centre: nedic.ca 
• The Waterloo Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition: Engages in professional development, advocacy, community engagement, education, awareness, service enhancement, and training in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. @wweatingdisorderscoalition 
• But I Hate My Body: Cracking the Code on Body Acceptance: Are you thinking about the notion of body acceptance? Or perhaps someone in your life is urging you to consider body acceptance. Maybe you have heard the word body acceptance and thought to yourself, “Why in the world would I accept THIS body?”
• Sheena’s Place: sheenasplace.org 
• National Initiative for Eating Disorders (NIED): nied.ca  
• Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (FEAST): feast-ed.org  
• Waterloo-Wellington Family and Friends Support Group: cmhaww.ca/programs/services-for-eating-disorders/family-and-friends-education-and-support-group