<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[National Initiative for Eating Disorders]]></title><description><![CDATA[NIED]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:08:15 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.nied.ca/fr/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[To talk about women's bodies or not to talk about women's bodies, that is the question.]]></title><description><![CDATA[I don’t think there’s a clean, perfect answer to this, but I do think we need to talk about it. For years, we were told that commenting on women’s bodies is harmful. And honestly, that made sense. I grew up in the era of magazine covers ranking “best” and “worst” bodies, picking apart whether a celebrity was pregnant or just bloated after lunch. That kind of constant scrutiny doesn’t exist in a vacuum  - it shapes how people see themselves. I know it did for me. My eating disorder didn’t come...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/to-talk-about-women-s-bodies-or-not-to-talk-about-women-s-bodies-that-is-the-question</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e0dea82233be75226ebeb4</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:11:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_08d4d4cc3e6f461ab341a81e8113a7fa~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Pillai Quinney</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[National Caregiver Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[April 7th is National Caregiver Day. We would like to honour the crucial work that all caregivers do: emotionally and physically supporting their loved ones or patients in daily tasks, recovery, advocacy, personal care, medical care, companionship, and so much more. What you do does not go unnoticed. We appreciate your hard work, and we also recognize that acknowledgement and appreciation only go so far. Words fall short when you aren’t feeling supported, feel burnt out, feel lost, don’t know...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/national-caregiver-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d52454d3b1a3633e6d05cf</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:36:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0ed0d289218148baaf416dfe1e9f1632.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agnes Kopij</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Winter Blues of Eating Disorder Recovery]]></title><description><![CDATA[Certain times of year can feel especially difficult, particularly for people with lived experience of eating disorders or disordered eating. Changes in light, routine, stress levels, and emotional demands can quietly intensify struggles around food, body image, control, and coping. If this season feels harder than expected, there is nothing wrong with you. These responses make sense. Why This Time of Year Can Be Challenging for Eating Disorder Recovery Disrupted routines and structure...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/the-winter-blues-of-eating-disorder-recovery</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b0993722bc04bb87f9dee8</guid><category><![CDATA[Understanding Eating Disorders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Recovery & Self-Care]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:25:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26da44f9ee6c24e00f6793bf3ff076cc.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_667,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Pillai Quinney</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My “Why”]]></title><description><![CDATA[I get asked a lot of questions about when I started running, how I started, why I started. The truth is, I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t run. I do remember the time when I couldn’t run and when it was taken away from me though. Taken away from me because of my eating disorder. A lot of things in my life were taken away from me because of my eating disorder, and I didn’t realize until years later of being broken from under it how much it had inhabited me from the life I had...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/my-why</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b0388a21a584c05f06298b</guid><category><![CDATA[Lived Experience]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:29:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_f6753518d0a74a28a0df5922d40df2b2~mv2_d_5760_3565_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jenna Miguel</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eating Disorders and Body Image in the LGBTQ Community]]></title><description><![CDATA[Body image and eating disorders are tough issues on their own, and they are often misunderstood. Yet, within the LGBTQ community, and particularly among gay youth and gay men, they are both common and deeply tied to issues of identity, belonging, and self-worth. Research consistently shows that gay and bisexual males experience higher rates of body dissatisfaction, restrictive eating, and compulsive exercise than their heterosexual peers. These struggles are not simply about food or...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/eating-disorders-and-body-image-in-the-lgbtq-community</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a701ac5f34dbe2951dc7b3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:44:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_5f426b324e564678377134~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Joshua Bell</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions for Eating Disorder Recovery]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we approach the new year, we begin to see the goals people have set out for themselves for the year to come. New Year’s resolutions can be a way for individuals to improve themselves, but for individuals with eating disorders,these messages can do more harm than good. Goals focused on food or weight can bring about a lot of negative repercussions, fueling feelings of guilt and all-or-nothing thinking that can be especially harmful for those who struggle with eating disorders and disordered...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/rethinking-new-year-s-resolutions-for-eating-disorder-recovery</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695577e9884b77c4de75bd40</guid><category><![CDATA[Recovery & Self-Care]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 19:26:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8b2ec364e84e4890972b1018cbf49d3c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alexandra DiVincenzo</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Supporting a Loved One this Holiday Season]]></title><description><![CDATA[The holidays will look different for everyone. You might be celebrating, seeing family, taking time off to relax, or perhaps things are looking busier than ever. There really is no one way to spend this season, and similarly, there are many ways that one might feel at this time of year. Guilt, grief, excitement, joy, anxiety, and so many more emotions may arise, and each person will feel differently. However, if there’s something that we all take into the holiday season, it’s how we can care...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/supporting-a-loved-one-this-holiday-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694bf0e9e0456745429f5043</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><category><![CDATA[Understanding Eating Disorders]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:59:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1cd9eba76a294db7befc9b890490d7f6.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Kidd</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[For Caregivers this Family Caregivers Month]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the past several years, we’ve seen an increase in awareness - and even acceptance - surrounding mental health. While stigma still exists, there’s so much more understanding of mental health challenges than there used to be. There is, however, one often silent force behind healing in the mental health space that rarely receives the attention it deserves: the caregiver. Caregivers are invaluable in the fight against eating disorders. When an individual is struggling, a loved one often...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/for-caregivers-this-family-caregivers-month</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69235187644344a477137e8e</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 18:29:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_dece8b6f2eb04e9aa6fea2c4673f1023~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laura Osorio</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eating Disorders and Medical Stigma: When the Place We Seek Help Hurts Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[Imagine finally gathering the courage to say out loud: “I’m afraid of food.” “I’m scared of gaining weight.” “I can’t stop purging.” And then being told: “You don’t look  like you have an eating disorder.”   Or “Your BMI is still in the healthy range, so just keep doing what you’re doing.” For someone with an eating disorder, comments like these reinforce shame, silence, and secrecy — the very things that help the illness thrive. One of the cruelest myths about eating disorders is that they...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/eating-disorders-and-medical-stigma-when-the-place-we-seek-help-hurts-us</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6918cfed0dbc57ddd09adcf6</guid><category><![CDATA[Healthcare Professionals]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lived Experience]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 15 Nov 2025 19:11:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_a493b1215f2a4a5aa2ba2a8d835f6d2f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Pillai Quinney</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chasing Dopamine: Living at the Intersection of ADHD and Eating Disorders]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sometimes I think of my brain as a little kid tugging at my sleeve, begging for just one more spark of excitement, one more burst of dopamine. It’s exhausting and beautiful all at once—the way it craves stimulation, comfort, and connection. What I didn’t understand for years was how that same craving shaped my relationship with food, with my body, and with control. As a person with ADHD, I am always chasing that next hit of dopamine. It’s like my brain is constantly scanning for...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/chasing-dopamine-living-at-the-intersection-of-adhd-and-eating-disorders</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690baffb1d01e1b5e066efd7</guid><category><![CDATA[Lived Experience]]></category><category><![CDATA[Understanding Eating Disorders]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:20:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d63fc8_703d6829984b48c09d3f305578843a03~mv2.avif/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Pillai Quinney</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Supporting a Loved One with an Eating Disorder on Halloween]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today is Halloween - which can bring up a lot of discomfort, stress and other difficult emotions - especially for those in recovery from an eating disorder. Costumes, parties, treats, all of which can be potential triggers, can make this time of year incredibly overwhelming or isolating. For caregivers, Halloween can be challenging too. It’s not always easy to support someone on a day that feels like it’s surrounded by so many potential triggers. You might find yourself unsure of where to...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/supporting-a-loved-one-with-an-eating-disorder-on-halloween</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6904adfac8a1fe1c55f69747</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:43:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d8d412c17fc64804ad9d26f8210d41bd.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agnes Kopij</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Orthorexia - Hidden in Plain Sight ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many articles written about orthorexia nervosa are titled “The Obsession with Healthy Eating” or “When Clean Eating Goes Too Far”, but...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/orthorexia-hidden-in-plain-sight</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68bc5f98b3939f371058ff22</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:24:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_70a944cab0604e9d8824050928902ad1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Kidd</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Letter to My Younger Self]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear younger me, I know that right now you’re so afraid of what comes next. You’re worried things will never change, but you’re also...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/a-letter-to-my-younger-self</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a8a0d41ef02eaf6d119abf</guid><pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:57:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_125be86076f445c7a6f481a799ca5e58~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Kidd</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eating Disorder Treatment in Canada: A Privilege, Not a Promise]]></title><description><![CDATA[Eating disorders affect over 1 million people in Canada (Armour et al., 2024). How many of those people actually receive treatment,...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/eating-disorder-treatment-in-canada-a-privilege-not-a-promise</link><guid isPermaLink="false">688d0dbe7cf755c097735953</guid><category><![CDATA[Healthcare Professionals]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 2025 19:25:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_4911a89d3a654198b0c54dba6205bd9b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Kidd</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Summer, Self-Esteem, and Eating Disorders: Breaking Free from Body Image Pressures]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the weather begins to warm up, the pressures alongside the season change are slowly coming into full effect. Summer is often a time of...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/summer-self-esteem-and-eating-disorders-breaking-free-from-body-image-pressures</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68581fa9179fee421c34c3d0</guid><pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:26:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_c1580eb9f61140e2bdabfc2abd61ae95~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alexandra DiVincenzo</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Men's Mental Health Month: A Father’s Perspective from the Frontlines of Education and Eating Disorders]]></title><description><![CDATA[Shared with permission by Dave Gervais, father and NIED Education Committee Board Member On December 5, 2021, Dave Gervais walked out of...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/men-s-mental-health-month-a-father-s-perspective-from-the-frontlines-of-education-and-eating-disord</link><guid isPermaLink="false">684c5bf83b222c5f65538e99</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><category><![CDATA[Understanding Eating Disorders]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lived Experience]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:17:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bc9eab057b1049f28e4fdef21fbeb11d.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Pillai Quinney</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Program Spotlight: Initial Point of Contact]]></title><description><![CDATA[Not Every Emergency Is a 911 Call—But It Still Deserves a Lifeline When someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, it may...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/program-spotlight-initial-point-of-contact</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6849f01f3b222c5f65521031</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2025 21:11:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_a07a102b480b4a5ebe0e79b87f5981f9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olivia Pillai Quinney</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[June 2nd: World Eating Disorders Action Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[World Eating Disorders Action Day(™) (WEDAD) takes place annually on June 2nd.  WEDAD is a global collective founded in 2014 by activists...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/june-2nd-world-eating-disorders-action-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">683da687d8879425406877c8</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:29:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_1c1dad37976a477086dea4fefabe1e09~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agnes Kopij</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Creating a Recovery-Positive Environment as a Caregiver]]></title><description><![CDATA[Caregivers play an incredibly important role in eating disorder recovery, but at times, they may feel unsure of how to offer meaningful...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/creating-a-recovery-positive-environment-as-a-caregiver</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68308cf6a47e58c922fa49ef</guid><category><![CDATA[Caregivers and Loved Ones]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2025 14:58:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_f66258a6fda74443bdfacf14f2d0230e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Agnes Kopij</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eating Disorders &#38; Self-Compassion]]></title><description><![CDATA[Eating disorders often cause one to experience a lot of negative feelings toward oneself. Individuals may feel shame or guilt, and they...]]></description><link>https://www.nied.ca/post/eating-disorders-self-compassion</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6820e63c09c5c2b0e38bc838</guid><category><![CDATA[Recovery & Self-Care]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_647658476e776e5977654d~mv2_d_3712_2088_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alexandra DiVincenzo</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>