BRITISH COLUMBIA EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION

526 Michigan Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 1S2
Telephone 250.383.2755 or 250.383.5518.
What is BCEDA?

The British Columbia Eating Disorders Association was founded in 1991 to respond to the needs of and act on behalf of persons whose lives were affected by eating disorders. Founding members included individuals recovered or recovering from an eating disorder, family members, concerned professionals and community members working in the field. BCEDA relies heavily on volunteer contributions.

Currently there are twenty to twenty-five volunteers who work in the Office, School Outreach, Support Group, Fundraising and Events, and Community Committees. The Steering committee is made up of staff and the Board of Directors, who link the program and service committees to the Steering Committee. There are sixty individual, and seven group/organization members of BCEDA.

Mission Statement

BCEDA is dedicated to education and advocacy for the prevention and treatment of disordered eating, the promotion of positive body image, and to supporting those whose lives are affected by these issues

Goals

  • Education: to provide, encourage, and facilitate education, ranging from school based prevention programs to broad public education campaigns.
  • Advocacy: to advocate and ensure voice for consumers, family, friends, and service providers in the development and delivery of services needed for the prevention and treatment of disorder eating/eating disorders.
  • Resource Information: to provide resources and information about disordered eating/eating disorders and body image services and programs in the Capital Region, and to ensure said information is accessible and widely disseminated.
  • Support: to support those whose lives are affected by disordered eating and issues related to body image.

Underlying Philosophy

All approaches, services and programs of BCEDA will strive to be open, honest, and accessible, and will be grounded in community development. BCEDA believes in the value of shared experiences, that there are many paths to wellness, and that the self is one's best resource.

While there are many contributing factors to disordered eating, BCEDA recognizes the strong relationship between the media, dieting, weight preoccupation, self-esteem, body image, and clinically diagnosible eating disorders.

BCEDA also recognizes that women make up 90% of those diagnosed with eating disorders, and therefore look at disordered eating and related issues from a cultural perspective. Both men and women are affected by a culture that devalues women, and as such must both be a part of the discussion and the solution.

BCEDA believes that wellness is more than the absence of disease, and that every women, man, and child has the right to live in an environment that fosters choice and acceptance.