Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Thoughts, feelings and behaviours related to managing food and weight can begin to interfere with everyday activities.  When we focus too much attention on our bodies and our eating, these preoccupations can quickly lead to missed opportunities in other parts of our lives.  Left untreated, eating disorders have a high risk of mental and physical illnesses that can become life threatening.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The most common age of onset is between 14 and 25 years of age, however the disorders are increasingly seen in children as young as 10 years of age;

• It’s estimated that 3% of women will be affected by eating disorders in their lifetime; 
• In a recent study, 27% of Ontario girls 12-18 years of age were reported to be engaged in severely problematic food and weight behaviour; 
• Eating disorders are now the third most common chronic illness in adolescent girls;
• The death rate associated with anorexia nervosa alone is more than 12 times higher than the overall death rate among young women in the general population;
• Men and boys can also have unhealthy eating patterns and eating disorders.

People can and do recover from eating disorders but professional help is almost always required.  The longer symptoms are denied or ignored, the more difficult the recovery will be.

Any food and weight issues that limit your ability to live a full and pleasurable life are of concern.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t clearly fit one of the clinical categories such as bulimia or anorexia – you still can and should seek help.

Please feel free to schedule an appointment with our Registered Dietitian (705-569-3244) and/or our Mental Health Worker to learn how to help foster a healthier relationship with food.

The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team…
committed to keeping you as healthy as possible!