Embody
If you’re concerned about your child, teen, or another young person in your life – or you’re worried that you or a friend may be developing an eating disorder – we’re here to help.
Embody (formerly Jessie’s Legacy) provides tools and resources to address disordered eating, body image, mental health, weight stigma, and self-compassion for children and youth. We create content and feature stories from people who’ve been there. We can also help you find additional support, when you need it.
Embody is a provincial program of Family Services of the North Shore, and one of the seven BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information.
Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness Week (PEDAW)
The Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign runs every year from February 1–7. Brought to you by Embody, this annual, province-wide effort raises awareness around eating disorders – including prevention, early intervention, and treatment – and explores media literacy, a healthier body image, self-compassion, resiliency, and more.
Understanding Disordered Eating: Supporting Youth
North Vancouver, BC – January 22, 2024 – eating disorders affect over 2.7 million Canadians, including 1.4 million youth. An additional 2 to 4 million Canadians struggle with disordered eating and body image issues. Youth are at higher risk due to factors such as; adolescent developmental changes, social media influence, peer pressure, and mental health challenges. The 2023 BC Adolescent Health Survey shows a rise in unhealthy eating behaviours among all youth.
Recent data reveals a threefold increase in youth with severe eating disorders requiring hospitalization, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness, prevention, and de-stigmatization (The State of Mental Health, CMHA, 2024). Eating disorders are more prevalent than documented, with between 600,000 and 990,000 Canadians fitting diagnostic criteria at any given time.
Early intervention is crucial. Identifying problems early and seeking timely support improves recovery chances. Education and awareness help parents and caregivers recognize disordered eating and advocate for comprehensive support.
“For these reasons, we need to get serious about prevention efforts, and this work begins at home,” says Carmen Kaufmann, Manager of Embody. “Encouraging critical thinking and challenging diet culture helps youth feel good about their bodies. Parents and caregivers must also reflect on how diet culture influences them.”
Diet culture, which promotes unrealistic body standards and equates thinness and/or muscularity with health and worth, significantly impacts all youth. It fosters negative body image and unhealthy eating behaviours. By challenging these harmful messages and promoting body diversity, we can help prevent eating disorders and support youth in developing healthy self-esteem and a positive body image.
Embody offers trusted resources for BC parents, caregivers, educators, and health professionals. To kick off this year’s Provincial Eating Disorder Awareness Campaign Embody is hosting a virtual youth panel on February 1, 2025, to discuss warning signs and prevention strategies.
In addition, communities are encouraged to hold their own awareness events during Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness Week (PEDAW), February 1-7, 2025. Visit EmbodyBC.com for more information and to order a free PEDAW promotion package.
Join us in raising awareness to support and protect the mental health of BC youth.
Local Date: Feb 01 2025 |
Local Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
1
February
2025
Understanding Disordered Eating: How to Support Youth
EVENT DETAIL
We are excited to host this online panel event, February 1st, from 10:30am to 12pm. Learn from our panel of youth with lived experiences and our moderator, Carmen Kaufmann, an eating disorder specialist. This free event is open to parents, caregivers, youth, professionals, family, and friends.
Through this event you will:
- Understand the factors that influence disordered eating
- Learn how to identify warning signs for disordered eating
- Hear how youth cope with social media, fat shaming, diet culture and more
- Learn how to support and start the conversation about disordered eating and body image
Order free eating disorders awareness resources:
We offer free resources such as wristbands, posters, postcards, and educational fact sheets about a variety of topics. To order, please fill out our PEDAW promotional package form.
BC Proclamation for Eating Disorders Awareness Week
The Province of British Columbia declared February 1 – 7, 2024 as Eating Disorders Awareness Week. You can view the past proclamation here.
Check out BC landmarks lighting up purple
WHEN: February 1 – February 7, 2025
WHERE: Across B.C.
Our community partners light up purple every year to show support for Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
1. Snap a photo of a landmark lit up purple.
2. Share your photo on social media, using the hashtag #purpleforpedaw or #eatingdisordersawareness and tag us on Instagram and Twitter (X) at @embodybc, and Facebook at @embodybc, and we will share on our social channels.
List of 2024 participating landmarks:
- City Hall, New Westminster
- BC Parliament Buildings, Victoria
- BC Place, Vancouver
- Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver
- Inlet Centre Fire Hall, Port Moody
- Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam
- Nanaimo Bastion, Nanaimo
- North Vancouver City Hall, North Vancouver
- Oak Bay Municipal Hall, District of Oak Bay
- Sails of Light, Canada Place, Vancouver
- Science World TELUS, Vancouver
- Town of Comox, Town Circle, Comox
- UNBC, Prince George
- Vancouver City Hall, Vancouver
I’M HERE FOR: MY CHILD
It’s not easy to raise children who feel at home in their bodies.
If your child has started dieting, focusing on their weight, or criticizing their body, it can be hard to know what to do. Embody has trusted resources to help you support your child and encourage a healthy body image.
Learn More
I’M HERE FOR: MY STUDENTS OR MY CLIENTS
We invite schools and community organizations throughout British Columbia to host their own awareness events and activities.
Teachers, dietitians, therapists, and other supportive adults can help young people to develop a positive body image and a healthier relationship with food. Embody has evidence-based resources to build your confidence, so you can support kids of all ages.
Embody also presents the Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign, which runs every year from February 1–7. This annual, province-wide effort raises awareness around eating disorders – including prevention, early intervention, and treatment – and explores media literacy, a healthier body image, self-compassion, resiliency, and more. We invite schools and community organizations throughout British Columbia to host their own awareness events and activities.
Learn More
I’M HERE FOR: MYSELF
Life can be overwhelming sometimes. If you’re struggling with eating, exercise, mental health, or body image, you’re not alone. Embody has trusted resources that can help you during hard times.
Learn More
If you or someone you care about would like to meet with an experienced counsellor, please contact the Intake Counsellor at Family Services of the North Shore
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