Eating Difficulties and Eating Disorders
What is an eating difficulty or eating disorder?
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An eating disorder or eating difficulty is any relationship with food that feels problematic. While fluctuations in eating patterns or habits are perfectly normal, eating difficulties can be significant and cause interference in people’s lives.
An important fact about eating disorders is that anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, culture or weight can be affected by a challenging relationship with food.
Strategies to try now
The most commonly recommended tips that can sometimes lessen the effect that eating difficulties and eating disorders have on our lives are:
Spending time around positive and supportive people who are comfortable with themselves and their bodies and display a healthy relationship with food
Think about the people you like and admire and what it is that you appreciate about them. Is it their size or weight? Or, is it something greater about their personality?
Think about your own ideas of what beauty is. If they do not seem legitimate to you, question and reevaluate what you consider beautiful.
Take up a hobby. Is there something you love doing but have been too afraid to try?
Talk to other people who are overcoming eating disorders. Mutual support is motivating and seeing someone else making progress may inspire you further in your life
Keep something nearby that reminds you of your own motivation for recovery
Read recovery related books
Follow body positive accounts on Instagram such as @nudenutritionist or @trustyourbodyproject
Keep a recovery journal filled with positive and affirming thoughts and ideas on why you want to recover
Go out and notice the diversity of shapes and sizes of people around you
Eating disorders are estimated to affect approximately 4% of Australians, or around 1 million people.
Types of Eating Difficulties and Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have been categorised, they include:
Bulimia Nervosa
“I will eat now and purge later”
Bulimia nervosa is characterised by the regular occurrence of binge-eating followed by unhealthy behaviours to compensate for overeating. A binge is where someone eats an above average quantity of food at one sitting causing a sense of lost control and significant distress. The behaviours that compensate for the large quantity of eating can include excessive exercising, vomiting, use of laxatives, restricting food intake or using drugs or alcohol.
Other symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa include an intense fear of gaining weight, feelings of shame and self-disgust and an inaccurate perception of one’s weight and shape.
Binge-eating disorder
“I am full but I can’t stop”
Binge-eating disorder is the regular occurrence (at least once per week) of binging. Binges are discrete instances where someone eats an amount of food that is definitely larger than average, in a way that feels out of control and causes significant distress.
Other symptoms associated with binge-eating include an intense fear of gaining weight, frequently eating until uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry and an inaccurate perception of one’s body weight or shape.
Anorexia Nervosa
“I am scared of eating and becoming fat”
Anorexia is an eating disorder causing people to fixate on their weight and how much they eat. An individual with anorexia nervosa may demonstrate a range of symptoms including a restriction of caloric intake, excessive exercising and rigid food rules leading to low body weight.
Getting Professional Help
Evidence based treatments make the biggest difference.
When it comes to the treatment of eating difficulties and eating disorders, psychologists commonly use therapies such as CBT to develop healthier ways of coping with the problematic relationship with food. When addressing eating disorders, it can often be helpful to consult with a nutritionist or dietician in collaboration with a psychologist.
Talking with your GP is the best place to make a start. They can assist you to get help for yourself or someone you care about. After talking about your symptoms and the situation you are in, the GP will direct you to a psychologist near you who specialises in the area that you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some simple facts to help you understand Eating Difficulties and Eating Disorders and how you can best manage it.
Eating difficulty resources
Risks factors for an eating difficulty or eating orders
Eating disorders are typically brought on by a combination of factors, feelings and life pressures. The most common risk factors for an eating difficulty or eating disorder include:
- Experiences of trauma
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of confidence
- Trouble at school, university or work
- Long-term illness
- Sexual or emotional abuse
- Academic or social pressures
Life after an eating difficulty or eating disorder
It is possible to live a life free from the stresses of an eating disorder. Through treatment of an eating disorder, you will acquire new tools for life as you work through the emotions that underlie your symptoms relating directly to food. Given that it is not uncommon for individuals be to be tempted to return to eating disorder behaviors during stressful periods, an important part of treatment will involve establishing a plan to cope with future stressors and triggers that cause distress or urges to engage in eating disorder behaviours. It is suggested to build a support system that can be drawn upon to help you navigate challenging times in life, and identifying the signs that indicate you might need to seek further treatment.
How common are eating difficulties or eating disorders?
Eating disorders are estimated to affect approximately 4% of Australians, or around 1 million people.
Myths About Eating Difficulties and Eating Disorders
``Eating difficulties and eating disorders are about vanity``
Eating Disorders Myth 1``You can tell by looking at someone if they have an eating disorder``
Eating Disorders Myth 2``Eating difficulties and eating disorders are a cry for attention``
Eating Disorders Myth 3``Eating disorders only affect young, adolescent girls``
Eating Disorders Myth 4We're here to help
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