Services for Eating Disorders

Here 24/7

Referral form

Inclusion criteria:

Child/Adolescents (6-18)

• Resident of Waterloo Region or Wellington County
• Medically fit to engage in treatment services in a community based setting
• Not actively psychotic or suicidal
• Prepared to be medically monitored by physician or nurse practitioner
• Program is not currently able to treat diagnosis of ARFID

Adults (18+)

• Resident of Waterloo Region or Wellington County
• Medically fit to engage in treatment services in a community based setting
• Not actively psychotic or suicidal
• Prepared to be medically monitored by physician or nurse practitioner
• Must have a BMI greater than 16.3

People suffering from these disorders may:

• under-eat
• binge eating an extremely large amount of food in a short period of time and often feels out of control
• have an obsessive desire to be thinner
• judge self-worth based on body shape and weight
• try to control their weight by vomiting, excessive exercise, abusing laxatives, diet pills or diuretics

As a parent or friend, you may notice some of all of these changes:

• rapid weight loss
• not gaining weight at an appropriate rate
• hair loss
• avoiding food and avoiding situations that involve food
• binge eating and or vomiting
• excessive exercise
• difficulty concentrating or completing school assignments

No single cause of eating disorders has been found to date. There are a variety of influences with eating disorders, including personality and genetics, as well as biochemical, socio-cultural, familial, and experiential factors. Each individual is different, and no two stories are the same. It is important to be educated about eating disorders and find the type of treatment that works best for each person.
There are a variety of types of eating disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED), and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

To read more about each type of eating disorder, click on the headings below.

Anorexia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Binge Eating Disorder

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

FBT YouTube video

Group Treatment: Groups Offered

COVID-19 Resources:

• Public Health Ontario Website with COVID-19 public resources.
  Telehealth Ontario. Phone number to call if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms: 1-866-797-0000.
• Government of Canada Ministry of Health Website with COVID-19 updates and resources.
• Tolerance for Uncertainty: a free COVID-19 Workbook. A Guide to Accept Your Feelings, Tolerate Distress and Thrive.
• How to Look Out for Our Mental Health During COVID-19. Tips and Resources for Teens to Manage Mental Health.
• Tips for Staying on Track with Recovery During COVID-19. CMHAWW YouTube channel.
• COVID-19 Tips and Advice for People with an Eating Disorder. The Butterfly Foundation.
• Beat Eating Disorders. Information about managing and Eating Disorder through COVID-19.

For Individuals:

• Life Without ED Eating Disorder Support Book: a story of lived experience.
• NEDIC: Information, resources, referrals and support for those affected by eating disorders.
• Body Brave: resources and support groups.
• Waterloo Wellington Eating Disorder Coalition. Local eating disorder advocacy group, website has resources and ED related blog posts.
• Brené Brown on Empathy. A short video that explains the benefit of empathy.
• The Power of Vulnerability. TEDx talk by Brené Brown.
• Brené Brown on Blame. Short video about why we should give up blame.

For Family-Based Therapy:

• Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder. Eating Disorder Book for parents who have a child with an eating disorder.
• What is FBT? Overview of Family Based Treatment with links to resources.
• Eva Musby website. Practical solutions, communication tools and emotional support for parents of children and teenagers.
• Maudsley Parents. A volunteer organization of parents who have helped their children recover from eating disorders.
• Around the Dinner Table. A moderated 24/7 forum that connects and supports parents of teenagers with eating disorders.
• Ketly Meal Support for Families. A video to help guide meal support efforts of parents.
• Mental Health Foundations. Emotion-Focused Family Therapy resources.

Nutritional Resources:

• Food Psych Podcast by Christy Harrison. “A weekly show dedicated to helping you make peace with food and break free from diet culture.”
• “Anti-Diet” by Christy Harrison. A book on anti-diet culture and how to reclaim your life
• Healthy At Every Size (HAES). A website outlining the HAES approach, blog, resources that focuses on weight inclusivity. Healthy At Every Size Book by Linda Bacon.
• Intuitive Eating: An Anti-Diet Revolutionary Approach by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. A book – “make peace with food, free yourself from chronic dieting together, rediscover the pleasure of eating”.
• “Eat What you Love, Love What you Eat” by Michelle May. A book and resources on ending the dieting cycle.
• Eating Competence by Ellyn Satter. Website related to Eating Competence.
• Toolkit for Carers – The caring role in eating disorders. A resource for those who are caring for someone with an eating disorder.

Medical Resources:

• When To Seek Medical Care For An Eating Disorder – Guidelines for Urgent Care. PDF Document.
• NEDIC-Eating Disorders Treatment. Webpage with information about eating disorders and treatment options.
• Eating Disorders: Effects of Starvation. Short video about the effects of starvation on the body and brain.
• Binge Eating Disorder Video. Short video about symptoms and support.
• Bulimia Nervosa Video. Short video about the health risks of Bulimia Nervosa.

For Parents and Loved Ones:

• Emotion Focused Family Therapy. Resources for parents supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.
• Skill-based Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder: The New Maudsley Method, Second Edition. This book is full of many practical suggestions for helping a loved one who is struggling with an eating disorder.
• A volunteer-run Family and Friends Education and Support Group takes place twice monthly from September to June and once monthly during the months of July and August.

This presentation is password protected and intended only for use of clients currently enrolled in the Adult Eating Disorder Program with CMHAWW.

Eating Disorders Education Day presentation

Eating Disorders Virtual Program Orientation