Eating Disorders Conference planned for Oct. 8

The 2022 Quad Cities Eating Disorders Conference, set for Saturday, Oct. 8, aims to raise awareness and understanding of eating disorders.

The event will be 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Isle Hotel and Conference Center in Bettendorf. 

The conference will offer in-person presentations promoting awareness and understanding, diagnosis and treatment for eating disorders. Presentations are geared toward healthcare professionals, those experiencing eating disorders and their caregivers and advocates.

“We cannot wait to connect and share these resources with the community in-person again,” said Stephanie Burrough, community relations specialist, UnityPoint Health – Robert Young Center. “It is our ongoing mission to make these life changing resources available for all in order to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Registration is $75 for providers looking to receive credit. It is free to the general public.

Register online at www.qcedconference.com or contact Stephanie Burrough at (563) 742-2455 or email info@amysgift.com.

The conference features keynote speaker Denise Hamburger, founder and director of BE REAL, a nonprofit that envisions a world where each and every student can grow up with a healthy relationship to food and their body.

Research shows children who grow up body confident have better physical and mental health, perform better in and out of school and are more likely to fulfill their unique potential. During her keynote, Ms. Hamburger will discuss the success she has experienced with her Body Confident

Schools workshops, her new high school body image curriculum BodyKind and how all can become advocates for body kindness.

Additional sessions will feature 16 eating disorder specialists from around the country. The conference offers two tracks – one for providers and one for the public.

The provider track will be offered for those requesting educational credits and includes topics around best practices in specialized treatment groups from assessment on through eating disorder recovery. 

The public track will focus on topics such as community advocacy, starting a successful support group, and integrating one’s mental, emotional and physical body for self-healing during recovery. The event is free to the public and free will donations will be accepted.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be covered by conference sponsors for all attendees. Ticket proceeds will go toward future training opportunities and efforts to improve care for those with eating disorders in our region.

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