Windsor’s Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association’s Executive Director Luciana Rosu-Sieza and Board President, Sara Woodruff-Atkinson, joined Yvan Baker, MPP for Etobicoke Centre today at Queens Park as he tabled “the Combatting Eating Disorders in Ontario Act”. 

If passed, the Bill would require that a “digital modification disclaimer” be placed on any photo or video advertisement and other commercial content where a person’s image has been digitally modified or retouched, and would require consideration of disclaimers and other regulations to address unrealistic and unhealthy conceptions of beauty promoted within commercial film, television and video.

The Bill would also establish a series of awards under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for individuals and companies who take meaningful action to reduce the prevalence of eating disorders, and require the Ministry to conduct an annual awareness campaign on eating disorders with an emphasis on promoting healthy perceptions of body image and beauty.

  • Additional provisions of the Combatting Eating Disorders in Ontario Act:
  • Specific disclosure requirements pertaining to the disclaimer would be determined by the Minister of Government and Consumer Services through regulation.
  • The Ministry of Government and Consumer would have the ability through regulation to exempt certain commercial content that is not being used to advertise a product or service
  • The Bill would be enforced by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services through consumer-initiated complaints and Ministry inspectors;
  • Parties violating the law would be fined up to $25,000 for a first offence, up to $50,000 for a second offence and up to $75,000 for the third and subsequent offences
  • Specific requirements pertaining to the storage of original photos or videos, including the parties responsible for such storage, would be determined by the Minister of Government and Consumer Services through regulation.
  • The Bill would come into force one year after receiving royal assent, providing a phase in period to allow for compliance.

Quick Facts:

Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness – it is estimated that 10% of individuals with AN will die within 10 years of the onset of the disorder.  Sullivan, P. (2002). Course and outcome of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In Fairburn, C. G. & Brownell, K. D. (Eds.). Eating Disorders and Obesity (pp. 226-232). New York, New York: Guilford.

Every 62 minutes at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder. Eating Disorders Coalition. (2016). Facts About Eating Disorders: What The Research Shows. http://eatingdisorderscoalition.org.s208556.gridserver.com/couch/uploads/file/fact-sheet_2016.pdf

Men with eating disorders often suffer from comorbid conditions such as depression, excessive exercise, substance disorders, and anxiety. (Weltzin, 2014).

Over 50% of teenage girls and 33% of teenage boys are using restrictive measured to loose weight at any given time. I’m, Like, SO Fat! New York, The Guilford Press PP. 5.

 CLICK HERE FOR MPP BAKER’S NEWS RELEASE

For BANA Media inquiries contact:
Luciana Rosu-Sieza
Executive Director, BANA
C: 519-818-4450
O: 519-969-2112
E:luciana@bana.ca

For Bill/Media inquiries from the office of MPP Baker Contact:
Jordan Ray
O: 416-326-1826
E: jray@liberal.ola.org

OR

Cynthia Antony
O: 416-325-3581
E: cantony@liberal.ola.org