By Sarah Bonato, Reference/Research Librarian, CAMH Library
Eating Disorders Awareness Week is a time to talk about the impact of eating disorders in Canada, and to start conversations to combat misunderstanding and stigma.
Anorexia has the highest mortality rate out of all mental health conditions. Approximately 600,000 to 990,000 Canadians may meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.
See below for a selection of research on eating disorders.
About Eating Disorders in Canada
From the National Imitative for Eating Disorders in Canada (NIED)
- A good source for Canadian-focused statistics on eating disorders. Also check out their info on Canadian research, resources for families, and lists of recommended books, workbooks and online learning.
Access at https://nied.ca/about-eating-disorders-in-canada/
Eating Disorders Among Girls and Women in Canada: Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (2014)
From the Standing Committee on the Status of Women
- This report to the 41st Parliament examines the impact of eating disorders in Canada, including the prevalence and etiology of eating disorders and barriers to treatment. Specific issues are discussed in detail, such as social media pressures, bias by healthcare professionals, importance of community based support, and promising treatment options.
Access at https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/parl/xc71-1/XC71-1-1-412-4-eng.pdf
Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines for Eating Disorders: International Comparison (2017), by A. Hilbert, H.W. Hoek & R. Schmidt
From Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 30(6), 423.
- This article compares guidelines from Australia and New Zealand, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and the the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. The articles notes through the international comparison many notable commonalities and differences among the countries. For example, recommendations for family therapy or pharmacotherapy can vary immensely among the different countries. A good read for anyone interested in how evidence-based guidelines may list differing interventions, depending on the source.
Access at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5690314/
Early Detection of Eating Disorders in General Practice (2017), by E. Rowe
From Australian Family Physician, 46(11), 833.
- This articles focuses on family physicians as the first point of contact for those with eating disorders. Info on clinical presentation, the importance of early detection, diagnostic criteria and treatment recommendations. Especially a good sources for quickly summarizing the changes to the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in the updated DSM-5.
Access at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29101919
References
Arcelus J, et al. Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7):724-731
Dr. Gail McVey, Ph.D., C.Psych., Community Health Systems Resource Group, Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders, The Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto, “Existing gaps in eating disorder services and recommendations,” Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders, Brief submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women, 4 March 2014.
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