What’s eating Steph Power?

By Steph Power and Steph Power

Power up!

Eating Disorder Awareness Week was held earlier this month and may have been brought to your attention through different events, held by the Counselling Centre in the University Centre. I thought it would be important to share some information with you readers, and also some resources about eating disorders and disordered eating. In conjunction with community partners, the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (EDFNL) organized the events earlier this month. They shared information and resources for those with eating disorders, those who live and care for them and those who want to learn more

Here’s some quick facts on eating disorders from EDFNL’s website:

• Recent surveys indicate there are about 7500 people over age 15 in Newfoundland and Labrador experiencing some form of an eating disorder • Fifteen per cent of adolescents (female and male) engage in disordered eating behaviours • Without early treatment, up to 20 per cent mortality is shown in long-term patient studies • Anorexia eating disorder is the third most chronic illness in adolescents • There are irreversible health complications resulting from prolonged eating disorders • Early treatment intervention generally results in ongoing good health and successful outcomes

A common misconception is that men are rarely affected by eating disorders. This is far from true. Studies show that disordered eating and eating disorders are on the rise in males, especially young males who are trying to full a preconceived notion of what an ideal body type is. This is just one of the myths that the EDFNL discusses and shares information about on its website. I encourage you to check it out at www.edfnl.ca

While I’ve been relatively well informed throughout my life about eating disorders and how it becomes a psychological obsession with physical symptoms, I have never realized how all encompassing it can become, until recently. While in my second year of university, I had a friend go into cardiac arrest from a very far developed case of anorexia.

Incredibly, since then, she has become a strong, healthy woman, who spends her time travelling, surfing and loving life. After her brush with such serious consequences, she was provided with the resources and assistance to rehabilitate. Stories like hers are uplifting on one hand, but on the other, they remind me that there are so many more people who do not get the support and care they need to rehabilitate. Feeding people and getting them back on a diet of recommended daily caloric intake is not the only solution.

Looking introspectively and externally at causes of eating disorders, situations, and feelings are incredibly important to a patient’s recovery. We as a society have created an arena for disordered eating to become the norm. Every day you hear about a new diet, a new workout program, a new magic weight loss product that is going to make you slim and beautiful or lean and handsome. These products, along with new media, only drive home unpleasant and damaging stereotypes. What is health? What is beauty? Over the next few weeks I will explore these concepts and what kind of research is taking place to combat norms that have become established in society.

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