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Eating Disorder Patients bring attention to struggle through Art Exhibit during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Newmarket, Ontario – February 5, 2008 - A face mask is displayed on a table at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket. One side of the mask is decorated in bright, energetic colours, while the contrasting side reflects deeper, darker colours. Much like the opposing image someone with an eating disorder sees when looking in the mirror, the double sided painted mask is an artistic representation of the emotional struggle faced by patients suffering with an eating disorder. February 3-8, 2008 marks National Eating Disorders Awareness week across the country, and as a regional leader, Southlake is showcasing the talents and artistic works of its patients in a one-day art exhibit to help draw much needed attention to this dangerous, and life-threatening illness.

Youth in Recovery: An Art Exhibition will be on display at Southlake on Thursday, February 7, 2008 and will feature works created by youth from the Hospital’s eating disorder program, including masks, drawings and paintings. As part of the exploration and recovery process, which includes art therapy, patients in the program are encouraged to channel their emotions through the use of art  The exhibit will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Level 1 of the East Building, across from the Gift Shop.  Community members are invited to attend.

“Self perception and self-image play a significant role in the way eating disorders patients view themselves,” says Jill Fraleigh, Nutrition Therapist and Resource Team Leader for Southlake’s Eating Disorders Program.  “We encourage our patients to use art therapy as one way to express themselves creatively and to visualize their journey to self-awareness, understanding and compassion. The works displayed in this exhibit are some successful products of their journey.”

Therapists from the Eating Disorder Program hope that the one-day art exhibit will bring much needed attention to anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and caution parents from ignoring the signs of eating disorders.

Established in 1997 as the first day treatment program in Canada, Southlake's Eating Disorder Program, has since become a model for other healthcare organizations across the country. Applying a multi-disciplinary approach to care, Southlake's team of psychiatrists, social workers, dietitians, psychologists, and educators, have helped more than 500 anorexia and bulimia patients to date. Prior to the program, those who suffered from eating disorders didn't receive support until they required hospitalization for severe weight loss.

Southlake's program is designed to assist 13 to 18-year-olds in resuming normal eating habits, restore their weight, eliminate dangerous weight loss practices, and resolve underlying psychological issues. Over 50 clients and their families receive services from the program at any given time. A maximum of 8 clients may attend the day treatment program at one time, which runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Patients eat snacks and meals as a group, and receive teaching from a York Region School Board teacher who help them to continue with their studies. Family involvement is a critical component in their treatment, and creative projects such as art therapy play an important supporting role.

Southlake would like to remind parents that the best approach to all weight-related disorders, whether obesity or anorexia, is prevention, and offer parents these tips to promote health eating habits amongst their children:

• Eat with your children: A recent study from the University of Minnesota found that adolescent girls who ate five or more meals each week with their families were about one third less likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviours.

• Listen to them talk:  Linger at the table after dinner and hear what your children have to say.  If your daughter tells you she feels hurt that kids at school call her fat, try to have her explain why she feels badly.  Understanding the emotion will enable you to help your child deal with the issue.

• Ease off the pressure: Adolescents have enough pressure to be thin from society and their peers, so avoid contributing to the stress at home. Studies have identified parental criticism of a child's weight, as well as parental role modeling of dieting, as being associated with the increased rates of dieting and extreme dieting among youths.

• Promote self esteem: Compliment your kids on their abilities, instead of their physical attributes. Rather than focusing on a child's weight, emphasize fitness and health in all children, regardless of their weight. Parental approval is key in developing one's self esteem.

• Put "balance" on the menu: Throw away the scale and ensure your kids make healthy choices as suggested by Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Living. Don't refer to foods as good and bad or healthy versus unhealthy; even so-called "junk foods" are fine in moderation. Make manageable, small changes that shift the pattern to a healthy one, rather than engaging in temporary restrictive or "fad" diets. Include physical activity in your schedule.

• Consult an expert: If you have any concerns about how your child's weight is affecting his or her health, discuss them with your doctor.

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