On Wednesday 26 February Brentford FC Community Sports Trust were asking fans how food affected their game before the Bees drew 1-1 against Everton at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Did you know in the UK, at least 1.25 million people are living with an eating disorder? That’s at least 1 in 50 people, yet many people wouldn’t know how to spot the signs that someone has an eating disorder. This is important because the sooner someone is treated for an eating disorder the better their chance of making a full recovery.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week aims to reach new audiences with the message that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect anyone, at any time, regardless of their age, gender, or background.
Food, Sports and Men's Health Workshop
Prior to the Brentford match at home to Everton last week fans had the opportunity to attend a workshop which explored the connections between food, body image and eating challenges, with a focus on men's experiences.
Topics covered during the workshop included:
Societal pressures
Sports-related body ideals
Nutritional myths
Engaging with Fans
In addition to the workshop, staff from the Trust, West London NHS Wellbeing & Recovery College and University West London were engaging with fans outside the stadium ahead of the Everton game to start the conversation and find out how food affected football fans.
The activation further supported running various learning opportunities being delivered by the Trust, linked to the connections between food, body image and eating challenges.
The Wellbeing and Recovery College offers educational courses and resources to help people manage mental health difficulties and improve their wellbeing. Open to everyone, the college provides a variety of courses co-produced by individuals who have lived experience. For more information about programmes and courses delivered, click here.
Food, Sports and Men's Health Course
Starting Wednesday 5 March and running for four weeks, this course explores the connections between food, body image and potential difficulties with eating.
Topics covered include:
Athleticism
Body perception
Balanced relationships with food
For more information on any of the above, please click here.
Eating Disorder Awareness Training
Do you work in the sports industry? Are you a sports coach, fitness trainer, dance or gymnastics teacher?
Sign up to attend our training on Wednesday 26th March and explore the connections between food, body image and eating challenges.
Topics covered include:
Types of eating disorders and disordered eating
Warning signs and symptoms
Communication and support strategies
Find more information here, or sign up here.
If you live in West London and need urgent help or are in crisis, contact the Mental Health Single Point of Access to speak with a trained advisor. Available 24/7, call 0800 328 4444.
You can also reach out for immediate help by: Calling 999, Calling 111 and selecting option 2, Calling Samaritans for free 24/7 on 116 123