Watch out for the warning signs of eating disorders

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on February 1, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta (EDSNA) is raising awareness of the different disorders many are dealing with, to break down stereotypes and offer help to those who need it.

EDSNA is a non-profit organization and a registered charity dedicated to providing meaningful support to those affected directly and indirectly by eating disorders.

EDSNA acting executive director, Angie Mellen, said around 2.7 million Canadians are affected by eating disorders and unfortunately there are many stereotypes and misconceptions about who can be affected by them.

“Eating disorders unfortunately have this stigma that people believe that only white teenage females can get an eating disorder and that is categorically untrue. Eating disorders can affect people of any age, race, size, weight, socioeconomic status, any number of factors,” said Mellen.

She said there are many types of eating disorders with some of the most commonly known being Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Pica, Rumination Disorder, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

“There are so many different disorders that we want to raise awareness and let people know that they are heard, we see them, and we are there to support them,” said Mellen.

She said Eating Disorders Awareness Week is recognized across Canada from Feb. 1 – 7 where many organizations across the country organize events to transform the narrative of eating disorders. Lethbridge City Hall will be illuminating their building in purple to mark Eating Disorder Awareness Week on Feb. 1.

“Eating disorders are complex illnesses. They arise from a number of concerns, and they are a manifestation of psychological and physical symptoms, so eating disorders are mental illness. They are the second deadliest mental illness, second only to opioid overdose,” said Mellen.

She said that unfortunately people still see them as physical illnesses when in reality they are mental illnesses that have physical manifestations.

“Treating eating disorders is a complex process, it will likely involve some sort of medical intervention, psychological intervention, along with dietary intervention, so you really have a multifaceted approach to treating eating disorders,” said Mellen.

She said eating disorders sometimes are the result of social influences and diet culture, but they are not always directly related to someone’s body image but a more deeply-rooted problem that gets exacerbated through what is socially acceptable in today’s society.

Mellen said this is one of the reasons people have the misconception that those most affected by eating disorders are in certain age groups, but she said some can have eating disorders diagnosed at the early age of three years old.

“There are definitely cases of people with eating disorders who are under the age of 12, you see it particularly in cases of ARFID, where children as young as three have been diagnosed with an eating disorder,” said Mellen.

She said young children have been diagnosed with ARFID when a child has extreme picky eating habits, when they have concerns regarding texture, colour, taste, smell, fear of choking and avoid food.

“That sort of thing can be present in children as young as three, but more common eating disorders typically arise during puberty,” said Mellen.

When it comes to things people can watch out for, she said that even though each disorder has their own symptoms, some general signs are shown among those with eating disorders that are common within various types.

“If you see any fluctuations in weight either up or down, that could be a sign of something that’s happening. You might also see skipping meals, or making excuses for not eating, or making separate meals from the family, that might be a sign that they are starting to control what they eat and have issues surrounding food,” said Mellen.

She said more serious signs involve frequent talk of weight loss or complaining about being overweight, and even more concerning, a frequent talk about dying.

“You might also see changes in clothing. While it’s normal for teenagers to experiment with clothing, if all of a sudden you notice that they are wearing baggy clothing all the time, or all of a sudden they are showing their body off a lot. Those dramatic changes can be signs as well,” said Mellen.

She said EDSNA is wanting to create awareness not only of the disorders, but also of the fact that there is help available.

“I would really like to let people know that support is available in our province. We offer support groups to people directly affected by eating disorders, but also for their family, friends, partners, loved ones, and we really want to make sure people know that they don’t have to go through this alone, that there is support available and we are here to help and we want to help,” said Mellen.

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