Eating Disorders and Body Image Counselling

What Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving unhealthy relationships with food, body image, and eating behaviours. They can affect physical health, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning.

Eating disorders can occur in people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds and often require professional support for recovery.

Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa involves intense fear of gaining weight, restricted food intake, and a distorted body image. Individuals may severely limit calories or engage in excessive exercise.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterised by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder involves regularly consuming large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control, often followed by guilt or distress but without purging behaviours.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

ARFID involves limited food intake due to sensory sensitivities, fear of negative consequences (such as choking), or lack of interest in eating rather than concerns about body weight.

Common Signs and Symptoms

• Preoccupation with food, weight, or body image
• Restrictive eating or binge eating patterns
• Rapid weight changes
• Avoidance of meals or eating socially
• Feelings of shame, guilt, or anxiety around food
• Physical symptoms such as fatigue or dizziness

Treatment Options for Eating Disorders

Psychological Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- Enhanced (CBT-E) helps address unhelpful thoughts and behaviours related to food, body image, and self-esteem
• Family-Based Therapy (FBT) is often used for adolescents and involves family support in restoring healthy eating patterns
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) supports emotional regulation and coping skills, particularly when eating behaviours are linked to distress

Medical and Nutritional Support

Treatment may involve a multidisciplinary approach including:

• Medical monitoring by healthcare professionals
• Nutritional counselling to restore balanced eating
• Support for physical health complications

Medication

Medication may be prescribed to manage co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive thoughts related to eating behaviours.

Medicare Eating Disorder Plan (EDP)

If you are living with a diagnosed eating disorder, you can receive up to 40 psychological sessions in a 12-month period under the Medicare Eating Disorder Plan.

When to Seek Help

Professional support is recommended if eating behaviours:

• Affect physical health or daily functioning
• Cause emotional distress or social withdrawal
• Involve rapid weight change or harmful behaviours

Early intervention improves recovery outcomes. With appropriate treatment and ongoing support, recovery from eating disorders is possible. Some eating disorders can become life threatening if left untreated, so early intervention is crucial.

Yellow Wattle Psychology is credentialed with Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED).