Eating Disorders – Confounding our Biology
- April 2002
When the New Port Centre at Port Colborne General Site opened its doors last June to launch the Niagara Eating Disorders Outpatient Program, it was soon evident that Niagara has long been in need of a co-ordinated program to help those with eating disorders.
"There is definitely a need in our region for this program. More than half of the number we've seen so far are still actively receiving care through the program," Doreen Morey, Program Co-ordinator said. "This is a long-term disorder."
The Niagara Eating Disorders Outpatient Program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and already, the number of clients being seen is higher than expected. "We received funding at a level of having 160 clients in 18 months, but after nine months we already have 150 clients."
Eating disorders are generally classified as psychiatrically-based, and usually start in adolescence, Doreen explained. "Most of my clients today are in their 20's and 30's, but their eating disorder started when they were teenagers."
What are Eating Disorders?
Anorexia Nervosa is a lack of food intake resulting in weight loss of 15 per cent or more of the original body weight; refusal to maintain body weight; fear of weight gain; distorted body image; denial of the seriousness of low body weight; and loss of menstrual periods.
Bulimia Nervosa is recurrent binge-eating episodes (consuming a large quantity of food in short period of time); feeling lack of control over eating behaviours, recurrent purging behaviours; and a self-evaluation overly influenced by weight and shape,
Binge Eating Disorder is a new classification of eating disorder and is similar to Bulimia in that normal eating habits are interspersed with binge-eating behaviour.
Although eating disorders start in the difficult teen years, there is often a delay in seeking treatment. "This is a very secretive condition, and it can be quite easy for someone to hide the fact that he or she is not eating for most of the day," Doreen explained. "There is a lot of shame and guilt, and teenagers, like anyone else, go through stages, where they're eating a lot or very little. It is very hard, as a parent, to pinpoint a problem."
What Should Parents of Teenagers Look For?
Along with obvious weight-loss, some symptoms are: any kind of purging activity, such as vomiting or excessive use of laxatives; mood changes; self-mutilation such as cutting; a personality change from being highly social to isolation; and a change in school grades.
Of the 150 clients seen in the clinic since last June, about 145 of them are women. "I know there are men out there with an eating disorder, but I don't think men are seeking treatment for this the way women are," Doreen said. "Certainly, women are far more critical of their bodies in today's society, and we are constantly inundated with the media message that thin is better. We are bombarded with images of thin women."
What Should Parents of Pre-Teens Do as a Preventive Measure?
"This is a difficult area," said Doreen, "but generally, parents should examine their own attitudes and actions around eating and body image. As mothers, women wield an enormous influence, particularly in the way they reflect their own self-image to their daughters and sons. A good common sense attitude for parents to take is to never make critical comments about weight or shape, particularly in front of their children."
In the community, Niagara health professionals are referring clients on a daily basis to the New Port Centre program. Social workers, crisis workers, psychiatrists, family physicians, youth counsellors, addiction services workers, registered nurses, public health nurses or dietitians work hand-in-hand with the program staff. "We work in conjunction with the referral person, so we are not the only set of eyes seeing a client."
The clients are assessed by counsellors and local family physicians Dr. Debbie Wilkes-Whitehall or Dr. Amanda Bell, who have received additional specialty training in this area. Once the assessment is complete, a treatment plan is developed. There are several counselling programs available at New Port Centre, including Turning Points, Nutrition, Body Image/Self Esteem and Why Weight? The Centre also offers support groups for individuals and their families.
In some cases, adolescent clients are referred to Hamilton or the Hospital for Sick Children if they require hospitalization. Adults are referred to the Toronto General Hospital or the Homewood Health Centre in Guelph. "Waiting for intensive treatment is a real problem for our clients and we do monitor and support them until they can get their inpatient treatment."
The Eating Disorders Program includes two doctors, a co-ordinator, a dietitian, and two part time counsellors. For more information on the program, please contact Doreen at the New Port Centre 905-834-4501 ext. 2532.