Combatting Eating Disorders in Ontario – BANA -Yvan Baker, MPP for Etobicoke Centre

Windsor’s Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association’s (BANA) Executive Director Luciana Rosu-Sieza and Board President, Sara Woodruff-Atkinson, joined Yvan Baker, MPP for Etobicoke Centre today at Queen’s Park as he tabled the Combatting Eating Disorders in Ontario Act.

If passed, the Bill would require that a “digital modification disclaimer” be placed on any photo or video advertisement and other commercial content where a person’s image has been digitally modified or retouched, and would require consideration of disclaimers and other regulations to address unrealistic and unhealthy conceptions of beauty promoted within commercial film, television and video.

The Bill would also establish a series of awards under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for individuals and companies who take meaningful action to reduce the prevalence of eating disorders, and require the Ministry to conduct an annual awareness campaign on eating disorders with an emphasis on promoting healthy perceptions of body image and beauty.

  • Additional provisions of the Combatting Eating Disorders in Ontario Act:
  • Specific disclosure requirements pertaining to the disclaimer would be determined by the Minister of Government and Consumer Services through regulation.
  • The Ministry of Government and Consumer would have the ability through regulation to exempt certain commercial content that is not being used to advertise a product or service
  • The Bill would be enforced by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services through consumer-initiated complaints and Ministry inspectors;
  • Parties violating the law would be fined up to $25,000 for a first offence, up to $50,000 for a second offence and up to $75,000 for the third and subsequent offences
  • Specific requirements pertaining to the storage of original photos or videos, including the parties responsible for such storage, would be determined by the Minister of Government and Consumer Services through regulation.
  • The Bill would come into force one year after receiving royal assent, providing a phase in period to allow for compliance.

Quick Facts

Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness – it is estimated that 10% of individuals with AN will die within 10 years of the onset of the disorder.  Sullivan, P. (2002). Course and outcome of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In Fairburn, C. G. & Brownell, K. D. (Eds.). Eating Disorders and Obesity (pp. 226-232). New York, New York: Guilford.

Every 62 minutes at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder. Eating Disorders Coalition. (2016). Facts About Eating Disorders: What The Research Shows. 

Men with eating disorders often suffer from comorbid conditions such as depression, excessive exercise, substance disorders, and anxiety. (Weltzin, 2014).

Over 50% of teenage girls and 33% of teenage boys are using restrictive measured to loose weight at any given time. I’m, Like, SO Fat! New York, The Guilford Press PP.

95% of dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years. Grondstein, F., Levine, R., Spencer, T. Colditz, G.A., M. J. (1996).

Eating Disorders Affect Millions of Americans:

  • At least 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime.
  • Eating disorders are the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescent females.
  • Eating disorders do not discriminate: male and female, young and old, all economic classes and race/ ethnicities are affected.
  • 0.9% of American women suffer from anorexia in their lifetime.
  • 1.5% of American women suffer from bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
  • 2.8% of American adults suffer from binge eating disorder in their lifetime.
  • Eating disorders affect large numbers of US military personnel.
  • In a study following active duty military personnel over time, 5.5% of women and 4% of men had an eating disorder at the beginning of the study, and within just a few years of continued service, 3.3% more women and 2.6% more men developed an eating disorder.

Facts About Eating Disorders:

  • Every 62 minutes at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder.
  • Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental disorders, with a mortality rate of 5% per decade. Young people ages 15-24 years with anorexia have 10 times the risk of dying compared to their same age peers.

Eating Disorders Are Dangerous:

  • Eating disorders can be successfully and fully treated; unfortunately only about a third of people with an eating disorder ever receive treatment.
  • Among adolescents with an eating disorder, fewer than 1 in 5 have received treatment.

Eating Disorders Are Treatable:

  • According to a survey of 109 specialists, representing nearly every inpatient eating disorders program in the United States:
  • 1 in 5 eating disorder specialists believe that insurance companies are indirectly responsible for the death of at least one of their patients.
  • 96.7% of eating disorder specialists believe their patients with anorexia nervosa are put in life threatening situations because of health insurance companies’ refusal to cover treatment.
  • TRICARE provides healthcare coverage for over 9.5 million active duty service members and their families.
  • Unfortunately, TRICARE restricts access to needed treatment, denying coverage of treatment from freestanding eating disorder centers.