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Monthly
Board Report
- March 2001
Eating Disorder Awareness
Submitted by Dianne Oikle,
and Heather Deegan, Public Health
Nutionists
In Canada, the rates of
eating disorders, such as anorexia
and bulimia,
are on the rise among men and
women. The facts are alarming:
- Approximately 90%
of women experience body
image dissatisfaction,
- 52% of girls begin
dieting before age 14,
- As many as 40% of
teenage boys are unhappy
with
their appearance,
- 80% of girls have
dieted by the age of 18
years,
- Approximately 10%
of identified eating
disorders occur in males,
- Boys and girls are
dieting at younger and
younger ages - many before
they enter grade 6,
- 70% of women and
35% of men are dieting at
any
given time (NEDIC website),
- Most children live
in a home where at least one
parent is dieting. (NEDIC
website),
- Canadian children
in grade three and four say
they would rather lose a
parent, get cancer, or live
through nuclear war than be
fat (NEDIC website).
Eating Disorder Awareness
Week (EDAW) was February 4-10,
2001. EDAW is an annual national
event coordinated by the National
Eating Disorder Information
Centre. The goal is to reduce the
prevalence of anorexia, bulimia,
dieting, and body image problems
through a public education program
emphasizing social factors that
contribute to their development.
The objectives of the campaign
include providing information on
eating disorders, dieting, and
weight preoccupation through
media, professional, and public
education; advocacy for change in
social attitudes about external
appearance; and encouraging
individuals with eating disorders
to seek support and help.
To recognize this event
and raise awareness about eating
disorders, the dietitians at the
health unit participated in
several activities. Awareness
posters to recognize the event
were posted in each of the health
unit offices for the public and
staff. A fact sheet with
information on EDAW and eating
disorders was included in each
staff member's paycheck to improve
staff knowledge about eating
disorders. Information on EDAW and
links to websites on healthy
weights, eating disorders, and
media advocacy were posted on the
health unit website at
www.healthunit.org. In addition, a
radio interview with one of our
dietitians was aired on CFJR on
Feb. 6 & 7 (total 4 times) to
raise public awareness of the
social factors that lead to
disordered eating and body image
dissatisfaction. The interview
also provided information for
parents and friends if they
suspect someone they care about
has an eating disorder.
The health unit
dietitians will continue to raise
awareness about healthy eating and
address the most prevalent
nutrition myths surrounding
dieting and disordered eating
during the upcoming Nutrition
Month Campaign in March 2001. |
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Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit -
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