Help for Someone Else

We know that physical activity can contribute to health and well-being. One might presume that the more exercise, the better; however, there is a point when too much exercise can give rise to health consequences. 

• Dysfunctional Movement– This NEDIC pamphlet provides an overview of dysfunctional movement; it describes what it is, how it relates to eating disorders, and how to help someone who is affected.

• Materials for fitness professionals from EDAW2022 – An introduction to learning more about strategies to have a conversation with an athlete or client who you think might be affected with disordered eating and about resources to help you learn of the indicators to watch for as you work to incorporate movement into people's lives.

• Athletes Embodied – A partnership between NEDIC, Western University and the University of Toronto, Athletes Embodied, integrates scientific research and perspectives from athletes, leaders, and decision makers in Canadian youth sport, with the goal of improving the experiences and retention of adolescent girls in sport. We do this by providing actionable, evidence-based guidelines and resources that address body image challenges in sport, with a specific focus on girls ages 11-16.

Healthcare providers are a vital link in the circle of care for people with eating disorders. Here are some resources that may be pertinent to your practice:

• Guide for Primary Care Providers – Primary care providers play an essential role in the assessment and care of individuals with eating disorders. Developed in collaboration with Body Brave, this resource for primary care providers is a concise guide to supporting patients who present with disordered eating concerns.
  
  
• Self-administered screening tools – These can help patients identify whether their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours relating to food, eating, and/or their body are consistent with symptoms of an eating disorder. You can share the relevant tool(s) with them to get the conversation going or make it easily accessible in your office for them to use on their own.
  Screen for Disordered Eating (PDF)
  Short ARFID Screen (PDF)
  
  
• Guide to Medical Care – This document, created by the Academy for Eating Disorders’ Medical Care Standards Committee, is intended as a resource to promote recognition and prevention of medical morbidity and mortality associated with eating disorders. It is not a comprehensive clinical guide. Every attempt was made to provide information based on the best available research and current best practices.
  
  
• Guide to Selecting Evidence-based Psychological Therapies – This document, created by the Academy for Eating Disorders’ Psychological Care Guidelines Task Force, is intended as a resource to promote the use of evidence-based psychological treatments for eating disorders. It is not a comprehensive clinical guide. Every attempt was made to provide information based on the best available evidence.
  
  
• Nutrition Care for Individuals with Eating Disorders: Start-Up Kit for Dietitians – Developed in collaboration with Body Brave, this resource aims to provide dietitians a starting point for delivering effective nutrition care to individuals with eating disorders in community settings. The guidelines are grounded in treatment principles that have been shown to promote healing, including person-centred care,  trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practice, and harm reduction.
  
  
• Guidebook for Nutrition Treatment – This publication, created by the Academy for Eating Disorders Nutrition Working Group, contains basic information regarding elements of nutrition care for individuals with eating disorders. The guideline is intended as a resource to clinicians who are providing nutritional interventions as part of a multi-disciplinary team or are otherwise involved in the care of these individuals. It is not intended to be a comprehensive nutrition therapy guide. The information provided is based on available research and current best practices.

The NEDIC Bulletin is published five times annually and highlights current and emerging issues in eating disorder treatment and prevention. You can subscribe to receive new Bulletins via email as they are published. Previous issues can be viewed on our resources page. 

Our community education programming is delivered to over 20,000 people across Canada every year. Our vision is to have home, school, youth-facing, and healthcare environments that are body-inclusive, where people feel accepted and respected. Our sessions blend best practices in health and education policy to increase your confidence in navigating the vast array of information around food, weight, exercise, and health in a non-discriminatory manner.

You can browse our webinars archive to register for upcoming sessions, as well as view recordings of past sessions. We address various topics, including diet culture and weight stigma, eating disorders and comorbidities, skills and strategies for folks directly affected, tips for educators, and treatment approaches.