Sophie Trudeau

By Kelly Clark / Underlying Issue

Comments
  • There’s a lot of stigma around eating disorders
  • Eating disorders are a mental health issue
  • A complicated relationship with food can become a vicious cycle

Sophie Trudeau is a passionate advocate for women’s issues. She previously suffered from bulimia. Here are 3 messages she wants us to understand about eating disorders.

Sophie Trudeau’s 1st message

There’s stigma around eating disorders.

When people don’t understand, there can be a lot of confusion. Some people think having an eating disorder is a choice. Others believe it’s about wanting to look good. But eating disorders are a real medical illness. If a person does not receive treatment, their symptoms can become life threatening.

Up to 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S.

Sophie Trudeau’s 2nd message

Sophie Trudeau - ocd cycle - the10principlesEating disorders are a mental illness.

When a person’s eating becomes disordered, it’s often a coping mechanism for an underlying issue. An anxiety disorder, substance abuse or depression are examples of underlying issues. If someone has the anxiety disorder OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) they can become overly focused on eating the perfect amount of food. Or they can develop rituals around food that they feel compelled to do in order to ease their anxiety.

Sophie Trudeau’s 3rd message

Eating disorders are a vicious cycle.

Often people who have a healthy relationship with food will wonder why a person with an eating disorder doesn’t “just eat.” Or “just stop” making choices that make eating so complicated. They don’t realize that eating is only a small part of what is going on. For example, strict rules can lead to eating very little food. Starving can trigger binging and then purging. Soon, a person can be stuck in a vicious cycle. Sophie describes how difficult it can be to get the help you need because:

When you are … suffering from a mental illness, you think you’re in complete control. But the opposite is true. You are, in fact, completely out of control.
– Sophie Trudeau, Huffington Post

Thank you Sophie Trudeau for creating awareness around eating disorders.

The good news is that eating disorders are treatable. There’s lots of great information out there. If you or someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder, or showing signs of having a complicated relationship with food, educate yourself. Information is knowledge and knowledge is power.
 

 

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Did you know Sophie Trudeau was an eating disorder advocate?

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