PEDAW

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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.

Next Upcoming Event

Understanding Disordered Eating: How to Support Youth

1 February 2025
– Virtual Event
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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

Interested in becoming a panelist?  We’re looking for passionate youth ages 16- 24 to share their experiences and insights. The panel will explore current challenges, hear personal stories, and discuss how parents and caregivers can better support those struggling with disordered eating and body image concerns.

Email a short bio to afeeny@familyse​rvices.bc.ca by Friday, Dec 6th, 2024. All panelists will receive an honorarium. 

Order free eating disorders awareness resources:
We offer free resources such as wristbands, posters, postcards, body image and eating attitudes screeners, as well as 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
Host your own eating disorders awareness event:

WHEN: February 1 – February 7, 2025
WHERE: Across B.C.

Host an event in your community. Set up a station at your workplace, or school, organize a fundraiser for eating disorders awareness, host a screening, or get creative with your own ideas.