The Eating Disorder Foundation says both the number and severity of eating disorders are on the rise as a result of the pandemic and the impact on the healthcare system is showing.

This is Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

The foundation says an eating disorder is a complex mental and physical illness which can become a dangerous medical illness if not treated.

A counsellor with the Eating Disorder Foundation, Patricia Nash has worked with patients and their families and says people often don’t give eating disorders much thought until they are confronted with the illness.

She says eating disorders can affect both females and males, and while they usually manifest in teens, they can also be hidden for years.

Nash says anxiety and depression often accompany eating disorders, with OCD being another common factor. The treatment will often address those co-morbidities.