Info
RxEating Disorders

Eating disorders are mental illnesses causing serious disturbances in eating behaviours. Below you will find resources to help you better understand this topic.

Community Partners

You can contact the partners below to get more information and assistance.

• ACCESS Mental Health

  Clinicians work over the telephone to help people navigate the addiction and mental health system. They are familiar with both Alberta Health Services and community based programs and will explore options and direct/refer clients to the most appropriate resource to meet their needs. Access Mental Health is a non-urgent service.

  Phone: 403-943-1500 (extension 1 for child and adolescent services)

  http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services/Page11443.aspx

Web Content

• Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta

  EDSNA provides information, guidance, a provincial voice, a community hub and most of all, support to Albertans affected by eating disorders.

  edsna.ca/

• MyHealthAlberta

  MyHealth.Alberta is provided by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services. Use the search bar to find information on 'Anorexia Nervosa', 'Bulimia Nervosa', 'Binge Eating Disorder', or 'Eating Disorders' in general.

  myhealth.alberta.ca/

• The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC)

  The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) aims to increase public awareness about Eating Disorders and related issues.

  nedic.ca/

• NEDA

  The mission of NEDA is to support individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. Their website is equipped with stories of hope written by recovering/recovered individuals, a family forum, and information addressing many ED aspects.

  nationaleatingdisorders.org

• F.E.A.S.T.

  Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders is a website designed for families to support and be supported during the treatment of a loved one. There is information on this site provided about both Eating Disorders and their treatment. Additionally, anyone can sign up for free membership to post on the support forum.

  feast-ed.org/

• Maudsley Parents

  This website provides information about eating disorders and family-based treatment, family stories of recovery, supportive parent-to-parent advice, and treatment information for families who opt for family-based Maudsley treatment.

  maudsleyparents.org/

• Academy for Eating Disorders

  AED provides education on eating disorder symptoms and treatment recommendations.

  aedweb.org

• Family and Community Resource Centre Information Prescriptions

  For information about anxiety, depression, or nutrition check out the information prescriptions. These resource lists were created by staff and community partners who have expertise in the clinical area. You can see the full list here.

  fcrc.ahs.ca/health-information/library/information-prescriptions/

Book Lists

These resources are available to borrow in the Family Library. You can also check with your local library to see if they are available.

You can download, print, and share this PDF, or our Destiny Collection List.

Parents/Support Persons who have a Child With an Eating Disorder

• 

  Surviving an Eating Disorder : Strategies for Family and Friends

  Michele Siegel (2009)

  This book offers support and solutions for family, friends, and all others who are affected by a loved one's eating disorder.

• 

  Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder

  James Lock (2015)

  This book demonstrates how parental involvement in the treatment of an eating disorder benefits the struggling child and provides the tools you need to ensure that your child develops nourishing eating habits and life-sustaining attitudes.

• 

  Skills-Based Learning for Caring for a Loved One With an Eating Disorder : The New Maudsley Method

  Janet Treasure (2017)

  Skills-based Learning for Caring for a Loved One With an Eating Disorder equips caregivers with the skills and knowledge needed to support and encourage those suffering from an eating disorder, and to help them to break free from the traps that prevent recovery.

• 

  Book of Hope : Stories of Love, Courage and Recovery From Families Who Have Battled Eating Disorders

  Sue Huff (2014)

  Huff's daughter was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 14. Baffled and afraid, Sue realized she needed to connect with other families who understood the journey. This book is the result: a powerful collection of stories, told from the perspective of both the individuals with eating disorders and the parent(s) who walked the path of recovery with them.

• 

  A Parent's Guide to Defeating Eating Disorders : Spotting the Stealth Bomber and Other Symbolic Approaches

  Ahmed Boachie (2011)

  Building a supportive and open relationship with young people suffering from eating disorders is key to assisting the recovery process. Written by experienced eating disorder specialists, this book will help caregivers to reach out to young people having difficulty cooperating with treatment.

• 

  Food Refusal and Avoidant Eating in Children, Including Those With Autism Spectrum Conditions : A Practical Guide for Parents and Professionals

  Gillian Harris (2018)

  This book provides parents with information, advice and training on how to deal with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and achieve a healthier and more balanced diet.

Understanding and Coping With Eating Disorders

• 

  Life Without Ed : How One Woman Declared Independence From Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too

  Jenni Schaefer (2014)

  Author Jenni Schaefer shares her personal experiences with an eating disorder and how she learned to treat her eating disorder as a relationship, not a condition. By thinking of her eating disorder as a unique personality separate from her own, Jenni was able to break up with Ed once and for all.

• 

  Goodbye Ed, Hello Me : Recover From Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love With Life

  Jenni Schaefer (2009)

  This book relates that recovering is not just about breaking free from destructive behaviours with food and having a healthy relationship with your body.

• 

  Skinny Boy : A Young Man's Battle and Triumph Over Anorexia

  Gary Grahl (2007)

  Challenging the assumption that anorexia is an exclusively female affliction, this compelling memoir is the first to describe how a young man overcame this often fatal disorder.

• 

  The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook : Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance

  Matthew McKay (2007)

  This DBT workbook provides step-by-step exercises for learning various coping skills and putting them to work for real and lasting change.

• 

  The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bulimia: Using DBT to Break the Cycle and Regain Control of Your Life

  Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher (2009)

  The skills presented in this workbook will help you begin to cope with uncomfortable feelings in healthy ways, empower you to feel good about nourishing your body, and finally gain true control over your life.

• 

  The Body Image Workbook : An Eight-Step Program for Learning to Like Your Looks

  Thomas Cash (2008)

  The Body Image Workbook offers a comprehensive program to help you stop focusing on your perceived imperfections and start feeling more confident about the way you look.

• 

  The Intuitive Eating Workbook : Ten Principles for Nourishing a Healthy Relationship With Food

  Evelyn Tribole (2017)

  The Intuitive Eating Workbook offers a comprehensive, evidence-based program to help you develop a healthy relationship with food, pay attention to cues of hunger and satisfaction, and cultivate a profound connection with your mind and body.

Contributors

Thank you to our friends at the Calgary Eating Disorder Program for their contributions.

Current as of: Aug 24 2023