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Eating Disorders

Understanding Eating Disorders: Navigating Food, Body Image, and Wellbeing. 

What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health conditions with potential physical and psychological complications that can become severe and even life-threatening. They’re marked by deeply rooted challenges in behaviors, thoughts, and feelings around body weight, shape, and food.

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While body image concerns and eating disorders can affect anyone—regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or life stage—recovery is possible. Together, we’ll explore the behaviours you’re seeking to change, as well as the underlying patterns that sustain them. An intricate blend of genetic predisposition, psychological factors, and cultural pressures makes eating disorders challenging to address and overcome. In today’s society, heightened focus on body image and dieting intensifies these struggles, often normalising disordered behaviours.

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In our society where body image and dieting pressures are magnified, the normalisation of disordered behaviours adds a challenge to the recovery takes time, but addressing these root factors can foster lasting resilience. While the journey may be challenging, you’re not alone in this, and with time and support, healing is within reach.

Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are classified into different types based on diagnostic criteria according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The classifications are made based on presenting symptoms, and there are some presentations that while they may not be formally diagnosed as an eating disorder, they share similar symptoms. 

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Eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness in young women. However, at least one third of those experiencing an eating disorder are men. Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities. 

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Anorexia Nervosa: Understanding Restriction and Self-Image

Anorexia nervosa is characterised by extreme restriction of food intake, driven by a fear of weight gain and a distorted self-image. Individuals with anorexia often see themselves as "too much" even at dangerously low weights, leading to severe health risks. This disorder calls for compassionate support in building a balanced relationship with food and body.

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Bulimia Nervosa: Breaking the Cycle of Bingeing and Purging

Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviours like vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use to "undo" the calories consumed. Unlike anorexia, individuals with bulimia may appear to have a "normal" weight, making the disorder less visible. Treatment focuses on breaking this damaging cycle to restore a healthy relationship with nourishment.

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Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Navigating Uncontrolled Eating Patterns

Binge Eating Disorder, or BED, is the most common eating disorder and involves episodes of consuming large amounts of food rapidly, often to the point of discomfort, without purging. BED can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and distress, making it essential to approach treatment with care and empathy to build healthy habits and self-compassion.

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Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Addressing Food Avoidance

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that centres around avoiding certain foods, often for sensory reasons or fear of choking, rather than body image concerns. ARFID can lead to nutritional deficiencies, making gentle support essential for establishing balanced eating patterns.

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Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): Complex and Individualised Patterns

OSFED includes any eating disorder that doesn’t fit within the criteria of other categories but still significantly impacts someone’s well-being. Examples include atypical anorexia (weight loss without being underweight) and purging disorder. This category is a reminder that everyone’s experience with eating disorders is unique and valid, regardless of labels.

How to know if you have an eating disorder

If you're feeling uncertain about your relationship with food or your body, it might be helpful to reflect on whether you’re experiencing signs of an eating disorder.

 

These disorders can manifest in various ways, including preoccupation with weight, restrictive eating, binge eating, or compensatory behaviours like excessive exercise. Many people struggle with feelings of shame, anxiety, or isolation related to their eating habits, making it essential to reach out for support.

 

If you find yourself frequently worrying about your body image, feeling out of control around food, or engaging in unhealthy eating patterns, you're welcome to reach out to me to explore these feelings further & we can screen for any EDs and develop a plan to help you feel healthy again. 

Statistics 

  • Suicide is up to 31 times more likely to occur for someone with an eating disorder (Preti et. al., 2011).

  • Nearly half of Australian women and one third of Australian men are dissatisfied with their body (NEDC, 2017).  

  • ​Social media use has been linked to self-objectification, and using social media for merely 30 minutes, a day can change the way you view your own body (Fardouly & Vartanian, 2015).  

  • High frequency dieting and early onset of dieting are associated with poorer physical and mental health, more disordered eating, extreme body dissatisfaction, and more frequent general health problems (Tucci et al., 2007).  â€‹â€‹

  • 70% of new mothers attempt to lose weight within the first four months post partum. The risks of women engaging in disordered eating behaviours in order to achieve this early weight loss are significant (NEDC, n.d.)

References

Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2015). Negative comparisons about one’s appearance mediate the relationship between Facebook usage and body image concerns. Body Image, 12, 82–88. 

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https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorder-resources/find-resources/show/issue-34-pregnancy-early-childcare-and-eating-disorders​

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Preti, AR., Camboni, MV., & Miorro, P (2011). A comprehensive meta-analysis of the risk of suicide in eating disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scandinavia, 124:6-17

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Tucci, J., Mitchell, J., & Goddard, C. (2007). Modern children in Australia. Melbourne: Australian Childhood Foundation. â€‹

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