CMHA observes Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 1-7, 2018

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) joins the National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC) and National Initiative for Eating Disorders (NIED) in observing Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 1-7, 2018

This annual, nationwide awareness week is designed to bring to light the prevalence and risks of Eating Disorders (ED) in order to improve supports for those suffering with Eating Disorders

The theme for EDAW 2018, “One Size Doesn’t Fit All” emphasizes that Eating Disorders can affect any individual regardless of gender, age, ability, race and ethnic identity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. There are 7 billion people on the planet, and 7 billion sizes.

Some facts:

• An estimated 1 million Canadians would meet the diagnostic criteria for an Eating Disorder
• Eating Disorders have the highest death rate of any mental illness; 1 in 10 people with Eating Disorders die from their disorder
• Suicide is a major cause of death among individuals with Eating Disorders
• Eating Disorders are serious mental illnesses associated with significant medical complications that affect every organ system in the body
• Canadian doctors, including those in training, feel unprepared to treat patients with Eating Disorders
• Many people with an Eating Disorder never get diagnosed, and suffer significant personal and family distress
• Eating Disorders are not a choice. They affect all genders, ages, racial and ethnic identities, sexual orientations and socio-economic backgrounds
• More than 1 in 5 Canadian teenagers are on a diet at any one time, putting them at risk for an Eating Disorder
• The provincial costs associated with patients who have anorexia nervosa and are on long-term disability may be as high as $101.7 million/year – 30 times the cost of all provincial specialized Eating Disorders services
• Too many Canadians suffering from Eating Disorders do not have reasonable access to timely, comprehensive and specialized treatment
• Early detection and intervention can result in full recovery from an Eating Disorder.

For more information & references, visit the National Initiative for Eating Disorders.