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Elaine Stevenson holds a portrait of her daughter Alyssa, with a rosary draped across it. (COLE BREILAND/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

It's been 10 years since Elaine Stevenson lost her 24-year-old daughter, Alyssa, to anorexia. The River Heights mother and advocate wants to make sure other families don't go through the pain and heartache hers did.

So over the past few weeks, Stevenson has been trying to get the word out about Setting the Table for Recovery -- the first ever eating-disorders conference hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Manitoba division, taking place Friday at the Viscount Gort.

Her goal? To uncover a set of illnesses shrouded in darkness. She wants health-care providers, teachers, families and patients to attend so they can know how to recognize and deal with an eating disorder.

"What's sort of sad about this illness is that it's cloaked in shame and secrecy and embarrassment," says Stevenson, who helped organize the conference.

Tracey Gold, an actress from the popular 1980s sitcom Growing Pains, will talk about her own struggles with anorexia in her Friday morning keynote address. She'll also be on hand for a social evening the night before, where she will mingle with guests and answer their questions.

Doctors, therapists and dentists will also present practical information about how to prevent eating disorders and cope with them.

"Oral health care is extremely important for people suffering from eating disorders. Unfortunately, our daughter ended up losing all her teeth. The acid of someone who is purging (engaging in self-induced vomiting) can really, really destroy the teeth and do it quickly," says Stevenson, who speaks matter-of-factly about the ins and outs of living with eating disorders.

There will also be a panel to talk about body-image issues among boys and young men, as well as the types of therapies available, including art therapy.

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Conference aims to reduce shame and increase education surrounding eating disorders

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Home » How to lose weight quickly » Conference aims to reduce shame and increase education surrounding eating disorders