By age 11, nearly half of Canadian children report being teased about their appearance. Some girls even said they feared “being fat” more than cancer, nuclear war, or losing their parents.**
Meanwhile, most kids who are silently struggling with an eating disorder don’t look sick. By the time the issue reaches healthcare, we’ve already missed several windows of opportunity to intervene earlier.
As parents, guardians, and educators, we are the first line of support. Reframe Voices Society, a BC non-profit, was founded with a mission to change the conversation on eating disorders through education and awareness. Let us help you reframe the conversation—for them.
Did you know?
Children as young as 5 years old have already expressed concerns about their weight.
By age 8, some children have already been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
In BC, treatment waitlists can stretch up to a year.
Even with treatment, experts suggest that full recovery can take up to 7 years.
**Sources:
- D. Mogensun and L. Yiu, Understanding Eating Disorders in BC Schools: A Guide of Trauma-Informed Practices for School Professionals (Kelowna: Kelty Eating Disorders Resource Centre, 2016.)
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), “Beyond Images,” accessed August 2025.