Eating disorders are not a phase, but a response to stress.

A true eating disorder can be defined by:

extreme shape and weight control behaviour - leading to significant distress

Eating disorders are complex and can develop due to a variety of factors like trauma, poor self-esteem, biological factors and more. It may look like:

Struggling to have a healthy relationship with food.
Thoughts about food and calories taking up a lot of your thoughts.
Compensate for "bad food" by excessive exercise, taking laxatives or purging.
Patterns of dieting and bingeing.
Restricting food feels safe.
Overeating feels shameful.
You have "good" foods and "bad" foods.
You don't feel comfortable or loving towards your body.

Eating disorders or disordered eating can turn into a serious mental and medical health condition, if left untreated.

It can lead to a variety of issues like stunting growth, poor nutrition levels, depression, anxiety, OCD and addictions.

Eating Disorders

How does someone develop an Eating Disorder?

Genetic factors

Growing up with a parent who had an ED or food issues.

Having a parent or others make comments about your body

Teasing or bullying

Abuse, neglect or other trauma in childhood or adolescence

Obesity in childhood

High-achieving, critical, harsh or perfectionistic parenting styles

Divorce, dyslexia, medical trauma - anything that left a mental injury on the person

Begin with a Consult