Understanding Body Image, Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders
For many of us, eating is straightforward—we eat when we’re hungry and stop when we’re full. However, for some children and young people, the relationship with food can be more complex, and this can be concerning for parents and caregivers. Developed in consultation with clinicians from Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre, this resource discusses body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders. It covers important terms, different types of eating problems, possible causes underlying these concerns, how to know if your child or young person is struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, and suggestions for how to get help.
Part 1: What are some terms I should know?
Eating disorders affect about 1.4 million young Canadians. While people tend to use the terms “eating disorder” and “disordered eating” interchangeably, there are some important differences. This section introduces some terms and definitions related to eating problems.
Part 2: What are some common eating disorders?
Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health problems that can impact a person’s long-term physical health and mortality. This section introduces some common eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and more.
Part 3: What are some causes of eating disorders?
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward cause for eating disorders. This page introduces the range of biological, genetic, social, and psychological factors that can account for the emergence of an eating disorder, which can interact, change over time, and look different in each person.
Part 4: How can I tell if my child has an eating-related problem?
It can be hard to know whether your child or youth might be struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder. This section introduces the behavioural, emotional, and physical changes you might notice if your child is struggling with an eating-related problem.
Part 5: What should I do if I think my child or youth has an eating disorder or is engaging in disordered eating?
It can be very upsetting to see your child or youth struggling with an eating-related problem. On this page, we offer some concrete suggestions on ways to support them.
Part 6: What does treatment look like?
In cases where an eating disorder has been diagnosed, there are three main settings in which treatment is offered. This section provides an overview of outpatient care, inpatient care, and day treatment, as well as the range of psychotherapeutic approaches that may be used in each of these settings.
Part 7: How can I take care of myself?
It’s important to take care of yourself so that you can be there for your child. In this section, we offer some tangible strategies to help you prioritize your own well-being.
Part 8: Additional Resources
If you would like to learn more about body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders, this page provides a list of additional resources to check out.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone.
If you are a parent/caregiver worried about your child, or a young person looking for help yourself – please reach out. Our network of child and youth mental health centres has 4,000 professionals ready to help children, youth and families with free counselling and treatment. We provide care in person, on the phone and virtually. No problem is too big or small.
Find your closest child and youth mental health centre.