Last night a panel of experts helped kick off Eating Disorders Awareness Week, at Notre Dame High School in Red Deer.

It's a week that's recognized across Canada to raise awareness about Eating Disorders, which affect up to 5 per cent of the total population, according to the Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta. 

The crowd heard about some of the causes of eating disorders including social factors and how society talks about body image, along with genetic, biological and psychological factors. 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Therapist, Kelsey Hanson, said there are things parents can look out for if they're worried about their child potentially having an eating disorder.

“Parents need to be watching out for any themes that they might be seeing,” Hanson said. 

“Maybe their child is going to the bathroom all the time after eating. Maybe they’re avoiding foods, maybe they’re avoiding specific foods, or calling specific foods bad or wrong.”

One of the speakers, Registered Social Worker with a Masters of Health Education, Patty Rempel, spoke about the dangers of dieting and how it's the main predictor of weight gain, obesity and a big contributor to eating disorders. 

“It causes feelings of deprivation and restriction, so we try to seek out more food. It’s sort of this diet-binge cycle and dieting is what starts that,” Rempel said. 

“Especially when we’re doing these really low calorie diets, it’s not going to be if somebody will binge or have loss of control eating, it’s when.”   

In fact, she says 95% of all fad diets fail and teens who diet are two to three times more likely to gain weight.

Another point that was brought up is the misconception that people who have eating disorders are thin. 

“People can be at any BMI or any weight, shape, appearance and be suffering from an eating disorder,” Rempel explained. 

But only 10 per cent of people with eating disorders actually seek help. 

“I do think there’s still a lot of stigma and not just with eating disorders, but all mental illnesses. I think we are severely under resourced in Central Alberta, in Alberta and in Canada,” Rempel said.

“When our province doesn’t step up and say this is important and here are dollars to have more mental health therapists in your communities and here are some treatment centres in your communities that we’re going to support. Then it doesn’t come to the forefront.” 

Rempel explained that when she started in mental health close to 20 years ago, there was more of a provincial mandate around eating disorders.

“In every mental health facility in Alberta, there were a couple of people working in eating disorder treatment and prevention. Now in 2017 there’s a lot less of those people.” 

Disordered Eating Consultant, Sara Kreklewich, said for people who do have a loved one suffering from an eating disorder, it’s important to remember that it’s not a choice and there is help.

“There is in patient treatment that is accessible through Edmonton or Calgary,” Kreklewich said. 

“Red Deer also has health care professionals who are able to provide support and resources and there are online support groups.” 

Some more resources include Alberta Health Services who has a child and adolescent mental health program at the Provincial Building in Red Deer and for adults there is the 49th Street Clinic with AHS. 

The Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta also has resources available, http://www.eatingdisordersupportnetworkofalberta.com. 

At the end of the day changing the way society sees body image is just one piece of the puzzle, it’s also about changing the way we see ourselves.  

“Body positivity isn’t about loving your body or believing that you’re beautiful. It really is self-worth and self-acceptance,” Rempel said. 

“When we see that we have value beyond what we look like and we have a whole lot to offer the world, no matter what that package is, then we can start to think about ourselves in a whole new way and we don’t get hung up on the diet mentality that is fuelling perfectionism.”

Other events taking place include Burman University who will be holding body positivity meditative colouring throughout the week and will have information booths on display.