NB Eating Disorder Network

Day 6 EDAW2023

Myth: All teens are concerned with their looks and so it's normal and harmless for a teenager to want to diet and exercise to lose weight.

Fact: It's true that a certain amount of concern over body image and food intake is normal in adolescence, a time when identity and peer judgment are at their highest; however, weight loss should not be encouraged or praised during this critical period. Teens are still growing and they need to continue eating adequately for proper body and brain development. Rather than focusing on or praising weight loss, parents and caregivers could remind their teen that eating regular meals and snacks and engaging in an active lifetyle will help them feel stronger; improve mood; and possibly improve how they feel about themselves, in their body. It is better to focus on health and activity level versus clothes size or the number on the scale; otherwise, the parent or caregiver may inadvertently perpetuate the thin-ideal, which be a risk factor for the development of an eating disorder. Hopefully one day we can have kids and teens understanding that bodies come in different shapes and sizes and that is ok. Here is a cute little video to illustrated this:

Poodle Science An animated video exposing the limitations of current research on weight and health.To learn more about the Health At Every Size® approach, please visit us a...

Day 3 EDAW 2023

Myth: Eating disorders are a choice so people can "choose" to get better

Fact: Eating disorders are serious illnesses that lead to emotional, physical and cognitive changes. Eventually the person's eating behaviors become markedly disturbed and their life becomes all consumed with food, eating, and often body shape and size. Anxiety is high and mood is low. They often feel plagued with guilt and self-hatred for eating too much or for wanting to eat, etc. They certainly are not choosing to feel this way. Unfortunately, the entertainement industry has sometimes glamourized EDs but there is nothing glamourous about having an ED.

*Don't forget to participate in our contest to show your support for all those who have been and still are affected by eating disorders!

How to participate:

- like and share one of our posts for EDAW 2023
-post a picture of yourself or of something in purple to show support, in the comments section. **Please post pictures in the comments of February 1st post so we can see all the purple in one place!

**Prizes available to win include gift cards for USVA Nodik Spa and MacArthurs Nursery, as well as an orginal art piece from Janice's Fairies and Flowers. Winners will be chosen and contacted on February 7th.