This Is Me

We want to take the time to thank the individuals who have followed the campaign. It has been an incredible journey learning and growing with you. The most rewarding portion of this undertaking is the creation of an environment in which individuals feel comfortable sharing their personal struggle with eating disorders to complete strangers.

Our wish for this campaign above all else is to inspire and normalize the idea of seeking help, and reminding people that they are not alone. In many NEDIC resources there exists a common theme under the topic of treatment, and it is the idea that the only mistake you can make in life is NOT asking for help. All healing will take time, and asking for help is the first courageous step that must be taken to facilitate this process.

We encourage all those who live with eating disorders to lean on their closest confidants for love and support, as you navigate the process of recovery.

In addition, we call on all people to continue the process of eating disorder education. Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and if we are sensitive to those around us we may just be able to recognize the signs of a problem and offer a helping hand. Let us reflect and celebrate what we have accomplished thus far, and promise to continue challenging the stigma which surrounds eating disorders in the future.

Types of Treatment for Eating Disorders

What type of help is available? There are currently four types of treatment commonly used to care for those with eating disorders; day treatment, inpatient care, outpatient treatment and residential treatment.

Day Treatment Programs involve having the patient spend a number of hours a day at the program (typically a hospital), where they will eat meals while continuing to live at home. These treatment programs are staffed with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners/nurses, psychologists, dieticians, social workers, counsellors, and educators. These programs typically involve the individual visiting the clinic five days a week from breakfast to dinner time. Day treatment programs have been shown to be exceptionally effective in improving patients psychological symptoms, body mass index, depression, and self esteem scores (Kong, 2005).

This study also brought up the crucial role nurse practitioners in these programs fulfill. Nurses can help establish an alliance between the patient and the care they are receiving. Care is most effective when the nurses maintain an empathetic relationship with the patient (Kong, 2005). These programs allow the individual to maintain some sense of normalcy in their life as they continue to live at home.

Inpatient Care is hospital-based care for individuals whose symptoms require intensive medical intervention and monitoring. It includes regular medical monitoring, refeeding and nutrition restoration. The goal of this treatment is to stabilize the individual’s physical health so that they may transition into other forms of treatment like day treatment programs or outpatient care. One issue with inpatient care is the difficulty patients often face with the transition back home from the hospital. These difficulties often lead to relapse and the need for further treatment (Vandereycken, 2003). Inpatient care is also often limited by funding and hospital bed availability, which results in individuals not receiving this type of care in the first place, or being released too early (Herpertz-Dahlmann, 2014).

Outpatient Treatment is used when the individual is medically stable, but would still benefit from regular check ins and therapy sessions. The individual may regularly see a therapist, dietician and go for regular medical check ups.

Residential Treatment is considered for individuals who are medically stable, but for who outpatient treatment and day treatment programs have been unsuccessful. With residential treatment, the individuals are given 24 hour care in a home-like setting. These treatment programs have been found to be very effective in reducing the severity of eating disorder symptoms, however the transition back to the individual's everyday life may be challenging, as they are no longer given constant support (Bean, 2013).

We will now sign off with this reminder; whoever you are, wherever you may be, please remember: you are loved and needed!

Do you feel confident that you would notice the warning signs of an eating disorder in a friend or family member? If not...read on! The process of recovering from an eating disorder is better/faster the sooner an eating disorder is discovered and reduces suffering. While there is a list of warning signs, we must remember that not everyone struggling with an eating disorder will present every symptom in the exact same manner. This list is more of a general overview of some behaviours that may indicate a problem. We hope that by sharing these warning signs, you can recognize the presence of an eating disorder in yourself, or a loved one, which will bring you one step closer to seeking help! Ellen DeGeneres

Signs and Symptoms for Anorexia Nervosa
-Dramatic weight loss.
-Dresses in layers to hide weight loss or stay warm.
-Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat, and dieting. -Makes frequent comments about feeling “fat”.
-Resists or is unable to maintain a body weight that is appropriate for their age, height, and build.
-Maintains an excessive, rigid exercise regime - despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury.

Bulimia Nervosa’
-Evidence of purging behaviours, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.
-Drinks excessive amounts of water or non caloric beverages, and/or uses excessive amounts of mouthwash, mints, or gum.
-Has calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self induced vomiting.
-Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, discoloration of teeth from vomiting, and tooth sensitivity.

Binge Eating Disorder
-Secret recurring episodes of binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a relatively short period of time in private).
-Feels out of control over ability to stop eating.
-Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating, and/or feelings of low self-esteem.
-Hoarding of food in strange places.
-Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions.

Orthorexia
-Cutting out an increasing number of food groups (all sugar, all carbs, all dairy, all meat, all animal products).
-An increase in concern about the health of ingredients; an inability to eat anything but a narrow group of foods that are deemed “healthy” or “pure”.
-Spending hours per day thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events.
-Body image concerns may or may not be present.

It's day two of NEDA Week 2020! It's one thing to encourage those with eating disorders to seek help, but we must consider the barriers that may prevent them from accessing treatment. So, why might people struggling with eating disorders decide to not speak up and ask for help? There are many reasons.

One reason is the negative stigma associated with having an eating disorder. A study conducted by Hackler & Vogel (2011) on the role of stigma in the likelihood of individuals seeking professional help shows men are less likely to reach out for professional help than women. This has much to do with societal pressure to follow the mantra around acting tough and being a "man."

Another interesting find within this study is that both men and women are more likely to seek professional help if they perceive the benefits to outweigh potential risks. This suggests an individual who believes in the efficacy of the counselling will reach out to medical professionals sooner and be more open about their struggle. There also exists a lack of public knowledge regarding the treatment of eating disorders. As such, individuals may not know what resources are available to aid them in their recovery, or where to look to begin this journey.

It is also common for many not to seek the help they need because they do not want to burden others. This trend was discovered by Papathomas (2010) in a study involving athletic experiences with eating disorders. In the fast paced world in which we live, it can be easy to feel like we are burdening others when we share our problems. This is why it is extremely important to make time for the people we love. We must let them know that they are never an inconvenience, and that we will always care for them regardless of the circumstance. If people know they have someone they can be vulnerable with, it will provide a space for them to discuss their troubles, especially when it involves eating disorders. We need to do a better job of giving people the opportunity to share their personal experiences. Together we can make a difference! Ellen DeGeneres