February 1 to 7, 2026

A large-scale event, because eating disorders can affect anyone.

More than one million Canadians are living with an eating disorder, including 300,000 in Quebec alone. This is an issue that can arise at any age — from childhood to later adulthood — and affects all communities, without exception. Behind appearances often perceived as “normal,” thousands of people struggle in silence, without diagnosis, without support, and without access to the help they need.

The invisibility of eating disorders costs lives. It is important to take action as individuals, but also as a society. By raising awareness and talking openly about this issue, everyone can develop their power to act and help combat eating disorders.

It is in this context that ED Awareness Week 2026 will focus on the theme “The Hidden Side of Eating Disorders,” aiming to raise awareness about behaviours that may seem harmless but sometimes conceal very real distress.

Examples include:

exercising excessively to compensate for a “dietary slip”;

Being fixated on the number on the scale and constantly feeling guilty in relation to it;

rigidly controlling food intake by counting every calorie.

When taken individually, these behaviours may appear ordinary, socially valued, or even associated with healthy lifestyle habits. However, they can also be early warning signs of an eating disorder and deep suffering that deserves to be recognized and addressed.

NEW IN 2026: A Movement to Support the Cause

This year, we invite the public to mobilize and help break the stigma surrounding eating disorders by proudly displaying the colour purple, a symbol of awareness and solidarity.

Everyone can take a simple action:

Share purple-themed content on social media, adopt a purple profile picture, or incorporate this colour into everyday life.

Together, let’s make purple a visible sign of support and remind everyone that behind behaviours that are sometimes minimized lies very real suffering.

A collaborative effort

In Québec, this major event takes place under the auspices of Anorexia and Bulimia Québec (ANEB) and Maison l’Éclaircie, with the collaboration of many partners in the private, hospital and community sectors.

Information and awareness

On this website you’ll find educational documents and tools designed to:

• Help the public better understand eating disorders and the reality experienced by ED sufferers and their friends and families.
• Debunk the myths and address the taboos associated with this type of mental illness.
• Explain the preferred attitudes and behaviours to adopt with an ED sufferer.

We encourage you to explore, download and share these tools.

Support and sharing

EDAW is a time to think about how we can best support and communicate with a person suffering from an eating disorder.

During the week, ED sufferers and their friends and families will have many opportunities to express their emotions, difficulties and concerns with regard to disordered eating.