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Eating disorders are behavioural conditions caused by consistent and severe problems in eating behaviours caused by problematic thoughts and emotions. Cases of an eating disorder can range in severity but all disorders are harmful to one's physical and emotional health. Eating disorders affect around 4% (just over 1.5 million) of people in Canada and most often affects women between 12 and 35 years old.

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Since there isn't just one eating disorder, the signs can differentiate between which one someone may have and how to treat it.

Anorexia

Restricted calorie intake (little to no intake)

Fear of gaining weight

Body dysmorphia

Bulimia

Eating large amounts of food followed by a purge

Forced vomiting, fasting, using laxatives, excessive exercise, etc

Using the bathroom after meals

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Eating large amounts of food to an excessive amount

uncomfortably full, shame, guilt, lack of control

Pica

Eating things that are not considered food

ice, dirt, chalk, soap, paper, hair, etc

Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Going beyond picky eating

lack of interest/distaste of certain smells, tastes, colours, textures, or temperatures.

Purging Disorder

Using Vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise to 'control their weight' without the factor of binge eating

Leaving for the bathroom after meals

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Anorexia

Muscle weakness, brittle hair and nails, severe constipation, slow blood pressure and pulse, brain and heart damage, organ failure, drop in internal body temperature, infertility

Bulimia

Chronically inflamed and sore throat, swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw, worn tooth enamel, sensitive, and decaying teeth from exposure to stomach acid, severe dehydration from purging fluids

BED

Eating even when you're full or not hungry, eating until you're uncomfortably full, eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment, feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating, increased anxiety and depression from stress and body image

Pica

Poisoning, infections, injuries to the gut, nutritional deficiencies, some cases can be fatal

ARFID

Significant weight loss, significant nutritional deficiency, a need to rely on a feeding tube/oral nutritional supplement to maintain sufficient nutrition, interference with social functioning (inability to eat with others)

Purging Disorder

Symptoms and side effects are similar to the ones of Bulimia, severe changes in weight, dental erosion, swelling of the cheeks and jaw, indigestion, frequent constipation, diarrhea, food intolerances, heart-related conditions

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How can Someone Develop an Eating Disorder?

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How can Someone Develop an Eating Disorder?

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Social media is usually the prime origin for an eating disorder, the constant and harsh beauty standards portrayed in the media can immediately create dissatisfaction in someone's body image. This dissatisfaction with body image creates unhealthy eating habits for not just adolescent girls, but boys aswell. A study said that 44% of teen girls believed they were overweight and 60% were actively trying to lose weight even though most of the girls in the study were at a normal and healthy weight. Overall, children and teenagers are comparing themselves to the people they see online or even in person. These beauty standards are unreasonable and are negatively impacting how we view ourselves and eachother.

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Having an eating disorder can affect the way someone interacts socially with friends, peers, and family. They can be jealous and/or uncomfortable when eating in groups. In some cases, someone can become envious of their friends/family and start to sabotage and isolate themselves from these relationships.

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Someone with an eating disorder can experience severe depression from never being satisfied with their body or themselves. A lot of people with an eating disorder suffer in silence which can be a cause for other mental illnesses.

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Eating disorders are very unhealthy and dangerous to your body. Like the symptoms and side effects listed previously, they are unsafe and even fatal to your health.

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Eating Disorder Treatment Toronto, Ontario

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We provide services to deal with all aspects of your eating disorder. Our treatment team in Toronto works to achieve full recovery from your eating disorder.

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If someone you know has an eating disorder, do these things:

Show and state how much you care about them

Do not urge them to eat or not eat

Do not compare them with other people

Listen to their feelings

Avoid guilt and self-blame, it's not your fault

And of course, listen to them and try not to give advice or criticize

Remember, they are trusting you with this information, do not abuse it and real advice should only be given by a medical professional

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Anyone who is suffering with an eating disorder can attend the Eat Well Health Center (any age, gender, or race).

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Nutritional Counselling

Work on healthy relationships with food

Therapy

Work on everything underneath the eating disorder

Learn skills to cope with thoughts

Integrative Healing

Acupuncture

Massages

IV therapy

Psychiatry

Medications for symptoms

Psychological Assessment

Provide a diagnoses

Medical Monitoring

Ensure stability during recovery

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Of course! Mental health is a huge part of your day-to-day life. Having poor mental health creates a struggle to interact with friends and family, go to work or school, and live in general. Being resilient to hardships and making sure we work on ourselves plays a big factor in the way we live and perceive life. Resilience provides us with the strength we need to keep going. So yes, I think everyone should prioritize themselves and their well-being.