Eating Disorder Awareness Week: February 1-7, 2021
From February 1st to 7th every year, Eating Disorder groups across Canada commemorate Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW). This year will mark Ontario’s first official participation, after MPP Jill Andrew (Toronto-St. Paul’s) announced the passage of her bill proclaiming the first week of February Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The focus of EDAW is to escalate awareness of the impact of Eating Disorders, educate the public, and highlight the supports available to those living with or affected by them.
Over 1 million Canadians have an Eating Disorder diagnosis, and many more suffer from disordered eating and body image issues. An Eating Disorder is an extreme form of food and weight preoccupation, which can be recognized as a persistent pattern of unhealthy eating or dieting behavior that can cause health problems and/or emotional and social distress. Eating disorders are not a choice - they are complex illnesses that are affected by genetic, biological, environmental, and social factors. Anyone can be affected by an eating disorder, as they do not discriminate based on gender identity, age, size, class, race, ethnicity, or sexuality.
Whether or not you have a formal diagnosis, your struggle with body image, food, and weight is valid. Building a healthy relationship with your body is a worthwhile process and there are many support resources, at Ryerson and beyond, to help you along the way. The Body Project at Ryerson University is an evidence based, body positive program that is dedicated to the destruction of the appearance ideal and the promotion of body positivity. Its multi-national parent program, The Body Project Collaborative, has been shown to prevent eating disorders and significantly reduce body dissatisfaction and pursuit of the appearance ideal. In fact, most members emerge from The Body Project ready to advocate for a more inclusive and expansive definition of body image. If you feel you would benefit from joining The Body Project, sign up below!
