Body Image and Eating Disorders
Find body image & eating disorders services & information
Body image and eating disorders refer to the range of thoughts and feelings about food and your body. They can include thoughts about accepting your body and thoughts or actions that are considered disordered eating such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. Eating disorders may be characterized by a disturbance in eating behaviour, distortions in body image and preoccupation with body image and weight. Eating disorder behaviours may involve over eating or under eating.
Getting Help
The BC Children’s Kelty Eating Disorders website helps people find resources and information for every stage of the eating disorder journey, as well as locate programs and treatment centres in BC. There are also clinical tools, resources and training for health professionals working in the field of eating disorders. In addition, parent peer support is available through the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre for parents and caregivers of children and youth up to age 24, who are concerned about an eating disorder.
Services and Resources Available
Online Directory Search for additional services and resources available, or check out the following online, in-person, app, and phone services.
Online Resources
You can search for online services and resources available across B.C. using the online directory or visit one of the resources below:
- Canadian Mental Health Association – British Columbia, Eating Disorders: Defines eating disorders, who is affected, and offers ideas on what and where support is available.
- HeretoHelp, Eating Disorders: Features plain-language Personal Stories and Self-Help Resources for children, men, women, Aboriginal, and LGBT. Topics covered include body image and disordered eating.
- Jessie’s Legacy: Provides eating disorder prevention education, resources and support for youth, families, educators and professionals including the Eating Disorder Prevention Toolkit and Jessie’s Legacy Blog.
- Kelty Eating Disorders website: Connects people with resources and information for every stage of the eating disorder journey.
- Looking Glass: A caring community of prevention and support for those suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders and their family and friends. Services include the Looking Glass Online Support Group.
- Foundry BC, Body Image and Eating: An online space for youth and young adults in B.C. to check in on how they are feeling, and connect with mental health resources.
Email Services
- Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Parent peer support is available for parents and caregivers of children and youth up to age 24, who are concerned about an eating disorder. Contact the Kelty Centre to learn more about personalized peer support, navigating the mental health system and accessing information and resources.
Chat Services
- Looking Glass Support Group, Online Chat: A peer support group service where people can come together in a safe space to support each other and talk about what is going on for them.
App Resources
- Rise Up + Recover: An app provided by the Recovery Warriors and recommended by Mindcheck.ca for youth struggling with food, dieting, exercise, and body image.
In-Person Services
You can search for in-person services using the online directory or the Kelty Eating Disorders Service Locator. There are a number of treatment options which may include:
- Outpatient treatment may be at a clinic, community health centre, or hospital where you attend appointments and do not stay overnight. This type of treatment is usually with a therapist or counsellor, a physician or pediatrician, a registered dietitian, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
- Day Treatment may be in a clinic or hospital where you spend the full day in treatment but do not spend the night. This type of treatment is usually a mixture of the therapies available for outpatients.
- Inpatient or Residential Care treatment is where you spend both days and nights at the clinical residence, residential care home designated for this type of care, hospital, or even a private residential care service. This type of treatment is a mixture of the therapies available for outpatients with additional supports available to address more dangerous symptoms.
- Support Groups are also available for individuals who have or are recovering from body image concerns or eating disorders. Groups are also available for friends and family. Groups may be in-person or online, visit Looking Glass Online Support Group.
Phone Services
- 310-Mental Health: Call 310-6789 (toll-free, no area code needed) for access to emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health. Available 24 hours a day.
- Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Parent peer support is available for parents and caregivers of children and youth up to age 24, who are concerned about an eating disorder. Contact the Kelty Centre to learn more about personalized peer support, navigating the mental health system and accessing information and resources.
