Raising awareness about eating disorders at University of Windsor

The University of Windsor is working to shed the light on eating disorders during Eating Disorders Awareness week.

It’s eating disorders awareness week, a time for open discussions on a serious, but treatable, mental illness.

Eating disorders impact almost 2.7 million Canadians -- approximately 1.4 million of these are youth.

From Feb. 1 to Feb. 7, efforts to shed light on the severity of related disorders and challenging the stigma associated with them is the aim of organizations like Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA).

BANA set up a booth at University of Windsor’s Toldo Lancer Centre Wednesday afternoon to help educate and support students and staff.

Marisa Casey is a health educator at BANA. Casey wants the public to know that education and support for eating disorders is readily available in the community.

“We also have a Be Yourself magazine that can be found at our booth or on our website as well,” said Casey.

“Also, there is a National Eating Disorder Information Centre network, which has national resources. If anybody outside our community is looking for eating disorder providers.”