NEDAW

This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

A few myths about eating disorders, debunked:

1) you do not have to be underweight to have an ED.

2) EDs are not caused by vanity or pop media (though media is a HUGE risk variable to vulnerable populations.)

3) Affected persons are not "acting sick..." for attention. The most dangerously affected are those who keep their illness a secret (and most affected, do.)

4) People with EDs cannot simply "choose" to stop, or snap out of it.

5) Most people affected with EDs will continue to fight the battle in some sense for the rest of their lives.

Some more facts...

1) men can also develop EDs; the number of afflicted males is on the rise.

2) Among the deadliest consequences of EDs are extreme depression and suicide.

3) The current psychiatric resources for people seeking help with their EDs are VERY LACKING in Canada.

4) There is no single psychological or spiritual cause for EDs--everyone's case is virtually totally unique, making the problem difficult to treat.

WE NEED:

1) increased awareness.

2) Decreased stigma associated with binge-eating disorders and bulimia nervosa.

3) The end to glorification of thinness and anorexia in the media and fashion.

4) MORE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH EATING DISORDERS.

What to say and not to say when someone you care about has an eating disorder:

1) To voice your concern to a person with ED: do NOT comment on their weight. "You've been losing a lot of weight lately" is not a constructive comment. Remember, anorexia causes people to WANT to lose weight. Don't feed the fire.

2) DO comment on their behaviour; for example, "I noticed you are skipping meals," "I noticed you're always tired."

3) Get the words "You look fine the way you are" out of your vocabulary. "Fine" = "fat" to a person with anorexia. Again, fuelling the fire.

4) Do NOT accuse. Remember, most ED behaviour is impulse-driven and largely involuntary.

5) When talking to a person in recovery: do NOT comment on their weight! "You look a lot better now" will always be interpreted as a confirmation of their weightgain. DO compliment their newfound energy, their enthusiasm, their happiness---all the important side effects of recovery. Remember that EDs are not really about weight, and recovery isn't either.

6) DO tell people why they are wonderful and why they deserve happiness and good health. Compliment their personality. Remind them of their goals.

7) Do let them know---gently---that their behaviour is hurting you.

8) Do not pressure them to... get help---help is useless and recovery is impossible unless the person wants to, and is ready to, recover. Offer your support. Offer to help them find help if and when they are ready to. In no way imply that they are "crazy."

9) This should be obvious---do not attempt to tempt them with fatty foods---it's not going to work, and it's not good for you either! :P