Many clients enquire about therapy because they have concerns about their eating.  I have previously worked for many years within an NHS Specialist Eating Disorder service. Therefore, if you or someone you care about is worried about their eating, I hope that you find these  ‘Eating and Body Distress’ articles helpful. You may also be interested in the teaching sessions on Eating Disorders and Body Distress at Nine Teaching.

 

 

Complications with eating do not just apply to those with a diagnosed eating disorder, such as Anorexia Nervosa, or Bulimia Nervosa. There are many other ways in which you may be experiencing distress around food, weight and shape. There are also the diagnostic categories of Binge Eating Disorder (BED), a highly distressing condition associated with eating large quantities of food, and Otherwise Specified Feeding & Eating Disorder (OSFED). Statistics tell us that most eating disorders fall into the category of OSFED.  What this means is that an individual does not meet the diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa, but that they are displaying some of the symptoms.

 

It can be difficult to get NHS treatment if you have a diagnosis of OSFED, Binge Eating Disorder, or in fact, no diagnosis at all. However, you may be experiencing distress when you are eating, contemplating eating, or body image distress and distortion.  You may find that your life is ruled by exercise, and that your self worth and functioning rely unduly upon exercise and attaining your exercise goals. You may be relying on compensatory behaviours such as purging by exercising or vomiting or though the use of laxatives.

 

A sure sign that you are suffering with eating distress is having the feeling that the control (or lack of control) around food, weight and shape is dominating your life.

 

It does not matter what gender you are, age you are, or what weight you are, eating and body distress can affect anybody, and does not only apply to those who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

 

At Nine Wellbeing, as the name suggests, there is a commitment to wellbeing. It is understood that if you are experiencing eating distress it is highly likely that your wellbeing is suffering as a result.  If you feel that these issues are impacting your life, please do contact Nicola with your queries.