Girls More Afraid of Being Fat Than They Are of Cancer or War!

The Statistics

The American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders estimates that some 8% of women suffer from either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders. (2000). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders (revision). American Journal of Psychiatry; 157 (1 Suppl): 1-39

The fear of being fat is so overwhelming that young girls have indicated in surveys that they are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of cancer, nuclear war or losing their parents. Lisa Berzins, Dying to be thin: the prevention of eating disorders and the role of federal policy.

35% of "normal dieters" progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full syndrome eating disorders. The spectrum of eating disturbances. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 18 (3), 209-219.

How Eating Disorders Begin

Once upon a time there was a child, a child innocent and secure. A child that could laugh and play. A child that could cry and be comforted. A child 'normal' in every way. One day, this little child was hurt. Emotionally abused. Physically abused. Sexually abused. Told not to tell anyone. It might have been parental conflicts and family dysfunction, it might have been dad's alcoholism or mom's unhealthy relationship with food, or maybe the death or abandonment of one or both parents. Maybe it was ridicule by peers or the ingrained phrase "you'd be pretty (or handsome) if..." Maybe all of these things, maybe just one... or maybe it was something else. As this child grew, so did the hurt...

Whether it's compulsive eating, bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating, in most cases this is how an eating disorder begins.

What is The Harmony Space?

The Harmony Space is committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental, confidential environment to those who suffer from eating disorders of any type. We believe that education and support are essential to recovery and should be available and affordable to everyone who needs help.

The Harmony Space is a centre offering a wide range of support programs and services for people affected by eating disorders. Doctor referral is not required. Our fees are very low compared to industry standards and are geared to income. 10% of our services are provided free of charge to those without financial means to get the help they need.

We strongly believe that working with the whole mind, body and spirit simultaneously can promote therapeutic transformation in individuals, and, ultimately, in families and communities.

All group, individual therapy and physical activities are provided by qualified professionals.

Programs and services include:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy - Wide variety of topics are available and are age/gender categorized
• Art therapy
• Nutritional Guidance and cooking classes
• Exercise Programs including Yoga and Aqua-fit
• Meditation Groups

There is NO other centre of this kind in Ontario. Please help us help those who need us most.

How Aviva Funding Will Help

The Harmony Space has a solid business plan, a website in development, several professionals ready to reduce their fees to work with us, a marketing plan and collateral and more heart and soul than you can possibly imagine. What we don't have is enough money to rent a space, furnish it and let people who need us know where to find us.

We require a leased space with enough room for group meetings and exercise, individual therapy rooms and a small kitchen for cooking classes. We need basic furniture, yoga mats, exercise balls, meditation cushions, cooking supplies and equipment and many other things.

We need funding to provide 2 small salaries, to pay for marketing initiatives, website costs and brochure/postcard printing.

Most of all...WE NEED YOUR VOTE. Please help us help those who need us most.

About Us

Suzanne Gracan and Jeanette Pennie, Directors of The Harmony Space have both recovered from debilitating eating disorders and have collectively lost 200+ pounds. Suzanne is currently working on Life Coaching certification and Jeanette is a Certified Personal Trainer.

More Statistics

Effective eating disorder treatment is simply not possible for most lower and middle-income Canadians. Therapy with a qualified, eating disorder specialized counselor or psychotherapist averages from $100 - $300/hour and inpatient hospital programs range from $15,000 to in excess of $30,000.

Even if either of these options is financially viable, the waiting lists are often more than a year long! The sad fact is that there are far more people in need of help than there are therapists specialized in eating disorders.