On June 2, 2019, members of the eating disorder community across the globe will unite electronically to deliver the message that “Eating Disorders Can’t Afford to Wait”. This year, the goal is to advocate for adequate access to accurate information about eating disorders, dispelling myths, and helping others understand that eating disorders are not a choice and can impact anyone. There is also a call to advocate for policy change and increased resources for those struggling,

This week (Feb 1-7) is Eating Disorder Awareness week across Canada. One million Canadians struggle with eating disorders. An eating disorder can affect anyone regardless of shape, size, age, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status. Eating Disorders are serious mental illnesses that affect a person’s physical, mental and emotional health, and can have significant and potentially life-threatening consequences. Eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating

February 1-7 is Eating Disorder Awareness Week across Canada. Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations and socio-economic backgrounds. We want to help break the shame and stigma of eating disorders through open and honest conversations. We hope you are enlightened and encouraged through the writings below by two women in recovery. Dear Body, After years of abusing you, ignoring you, and not taking care of you; I have dec

Saturday May 6th, 2017 is International No Diet Day. With summer fast approaching this is a good time for organizations and individuals to push back against harmful diet messages that state in order for us to enjoy summer we must be “beach body” ready. On this day, we celebrate body diversity and body acceptance, including fat acceptance, and embrace health at every size®. We honor our bodies in adapting health habits for the sake of health and well-being, not for weight cont

February 1-7 is Eating Disorder Awareness Week across Canada. We want to address three common misconceptions about eating disorders that perpetuate stigma, and can hinder support for people in recovery and their loved ones. 1. EATING DISORDERS COME IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES AND WEIGHTS. The media often displays images of people with eating disorders as quite underweight or emaciated. While some people’s weight reach these levels, many people with eating disorders appear to be

Westwind is really excited to be participating in the 5th EDAC-ATAC Biennial Conference: At the Heart of it All, to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 29th and 30th, 2016. This conference will provide an opportunity to learn of cutting edge research in Child and Adolescent and Adult Eating Disorders, as well as to network with colleagues from across the nation. The keynote speakers for the event will be Dr. Howard Steiger (McGill University) and Dr. Carolyn Becker (Trin

Watching someone you love struggle can be incredibly difficult. Not knowing what to say or how to broach the subject, worrying that you’ll say something wrong and make it worse – we have all been there. Trying to talk to someone battling an eating disorder can be particularly tricky – along with the behaviors that you may notice, there are also tumultuous emotions happening within them, along with personality changes, which can make them seem like a completely different perso

Since the 1970s, information about eating disorders and their treatment has become more available to clinicians, family members, people who are struggling, and the general population. Despite this, very few people have access to accurate, real-life information about eating disorders. That's why on June 2, 2016, numerous organizations from around the world are banding together to raise awareness about this mental illness that affects so many people. This is World Eating Disord

Welcome to our opening blog entry! We hope to inspire you, our readers, on your journeys towards healthy eating, body acceptance, self esteem and overall emotional wellness. We're also excited to use these entries to increase awareness about eating disorders and related struggles, and be a tool on the road to recovery. TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHO WE ARE . . . Westwind is a private counselling centre specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, body image, self este