A place to begin

Eating disorders

Considering your relationship with food, body image and wellbeing.

With James Miklos, Registered Psychotherapist

When food, eating or body image become a source of distress, it can be hard to know where to turn. You deserve compassionate support, acceptance and care that takes the whole person into account.

New Hope Counselling Centre provides online counselling support for eating disorder recovery. We work alongside physicians and family members as part of a person’s care.

Questions to reflect on

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder involves eating-related difficulties that affect a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. Understanding what is happening requires more than a questionnaire or a description on a website. A professional assessment can help identify the concern and the level of care needed.

Different types of eating and feeding concerns

Eating and feeding disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, pica, rumination disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), and unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED).

These terms describe different patterns. A person may be restricting food, having episodes of eating large amounts, trying to compensate for eating, regurgitating food, eating non-food items or struggling to take in enough food. A qualified professional can clarify what a person is experiencing and which care is appropriate.

Understanding your experience

There is value in looking at the wider picture of a person’s life. In counselling, this may include experiences of neglect, abuse or trauma; family relationships; feelings about yourself; cultural and peer pressures; stressful changes; anxiety and depression; and the use of alcohol or other substances.

Concerns about food or body image may also be connected with pressure to be thin or to look a certain way. Exploring these experiences can help make room for a more compassionate understanding of yourself.

Your experience is individual. We begin by listening rather than assuming one explanation fits everyone.

Signs that deserve attention

If you are worried about yourself or someone you know, consider whether any of these experiences are familiar:

Frequent weight changes or ongoing restrictive dieting
Persistent worry about calories, fat content or particular foods
Eating routines that feel rigid, secretive or difficult to change
Hiding food or avoiding eating with others
A strong focus on food, recipes or cooking while avoiding eating
Low mood, low energy or withdrawing from family, friends and social activities
Moving between episodes of overeating and restriction or fasting
Trying to compensate for eating through purging or excessive exercise

These observations are reasons to seek assessment, not a way to diagnose yourself. You do not have to wait for your difficulties to become more severe before asking for help.

Why medical care matters

Eating disorders can affect physical as well as emotional health. The risks and needs differ from person to person, which is why medical assessment and monitoring are important parts of care.

Health concerns discussed in eating disorder care may include dehydration, blood pressure changes, heart and digestive problems, dental damage associated with purging, and nutritional or mineral imbalances. A physician can assess the concerns that apply to you.

Counselling support is one part of a wider care plan. It does not replace medical assessment or nutritional care.

Care shaped around your needs

Treatment needs to be tailored to the individual. Different levels of care and different professionals may be needed to address physical health, eating patterns, relationships and emotional wellbeing.

Medical care

A physician can assess and monitor health concerns and help determine the appropriate level of care.

Nutritional care

Nutritional support can help with eating patterns and the practical aspects of nourishment.

Counselling and psychotherapy

Counselling can address emotional stability, communication, relationships, traumatic life events and other difficult experiences. At New Hope Counselling Centre, we look at present concerns alongside the issues that may be contributing to them.

We work alongside other professionals and family support as part of the recovery process. We are here to help you take the next step.

Food and body image reflection questions

These questions are offered for personal reflection and discussion with a professional. They are not a diagnostic test. You can consider whether each statement applies none of the time, some of the time, most of the time or all of the time. There is no score to add up.

I am afraid to eat freely because I think about food all the time.
I would rather be somewhat unhealthy than gain two pounds or a kilogram.
I avoid looking at my body because I have strong feelings about it.
I have a long list of foods I consider “bad” or “wrong” and try never to eat.
When I am hungry, I feel good because I believe it means I am strong or doing well.
There are times when I have episodes of eating a lot.
If I feel I have eaten enough to gain weight, I try to get rid of the food or compensate for the calories through vomiting, purging, laxatives or exercise.
I repeatedly check the shape or size of my body, such as by measuring, trying on certain clothes, looking at or touching parts of my body.
I believe my life would be much better if I could reach my ideal weight.

If these questions are upsetting, pause and seek support. You may find it helpful to bring your reflections to a counselling or medical appointment. If you are in immediate danger or need emergency help, call 911.