To Eat or Not to Eat

Eating Disorders has its own Awareness Week and it is from Feb 3-9. You will see a special display in the Loyalist cafeteria on Wednesday, Feb 6 from 11:30-1:30. A specialist in Eating Disorder counselling will be on hand to answer questions and offer resources. There will be a slide show presentation at the display table. Drop by and increase your awareness of this growing problem.

Eating and sleeping disorders are becoming more prevalent among college aged students.

According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) a recent study revealed that 27 per cent of Ontario girls, aged 12-18 were reported to be engaged in severely problematic food and weight behaviours.

We have to be the change we want to see. Challenge your own focus on physical beauty – look for the qualities of kindness, flexibility, generosity and compassion, for example both in yourself and in others as your part in making a change in our world.

View the media critically, realizing that the way media represents people is highly manipulative and creates unachievable images that have hugely negative impacts on self esteem.

College life offers you the chance to start to think for yourself and choose your own beliefs rather than following the mainstream thought track. Now is a time to work on the lifelong journey of self acceptance and acceptance of others. Think about comments you make about how others look or how you view yourself.

Do you want to perpetuate the cultural myths that suggest thin is beautiful and means you are in control? Do you want to be part of the belief system that values males who are constantly working on their body? What about valuing qualities in yourself and others? How about valuing those who treat themselves with respect and choose a healthy lifestyle for themselves? What would our world look like if our goal was trying to find who we are, what our particular gifts might be and how we can take care so we can offer the best of ourselves?



This is the national eating disorders info website. It has information for you if you have an eating disorder or helpful info if you are worried about a friend who you think might have a problem.

http://www.nedic.ca/

This is a local Belleville website listing free resources/counselling support for eating disorders in this community.

http://www.qyfc.com/resourcesforeatingdisordersc44.php

This site has a quiz so you can assess whether or not you may have a problem
http://eatingdisorders.about.com/od/eatingdisorderquiz/index_r.htm