It is a common misconception that eating disorders can be seen, only impact individuals in smaller bodies and are most commonly found in females. Eating disorders do not discriminate based on size, age, gender, race or socioeconomic status. If food is a source of distress, control or coping and takes up a significant amount of space in your life, you may be affected.
Eating Disorders
What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are psychological illnesses that affect approximately 3% of Canadians. A 2016 Statistics Canada study revealed that approximately 1 million Canadians have been diagnosed with this illness.
Eating disorders currently found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Other Specified Eating and Feeding Disorder
If you think you may be suffering from disordered eating or may have an eating disorder, please take this quick survey.
The Treatment Team
The role of the therapist
Psychologists are a crucial component of the treatment of eating disorders. Research shows that most individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder also have co-occurring psychological diagnoses. The therapist will use evidence-based practices, which are currently Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family Based Treatment (FBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) (in cases of Bulimia or Binge Eating Disorder) in assisting individuals in the change process. Therapists conceptualize the role that the eating disorder plays in the clients life in addition to helping clients explore and understand maintaining factors for their illness, how the illness interferes with the type of life they want to live and assisting them in changing ineffective coping patterns and behaviors.
The role of the dietitian
Dieticians are a critical part of the treatment team for eating disorders. Those specializing in this field address the psychological beliefs that shape an individual’s relationship with food, sometimes referred to as “food psychology.”
If your physical health has been affected by an eating disorder, a dietitian will work with you to restore proper body function—this is essential for all types of bodies. Contrary to common belief, even individuals in larger bodies can be malnourished or physically unstable.
Dieticians provide science-based education to help clients question their behaviors and change them. They may also guide you through food exposures and mindful eating practices. Unlike popular misconceptions, dietitians do not prescribe rigid diets or judge your food choices. Instead, they help you understand how different foods affect you and support a recovery that will allow your body to function appropriately, while also guiding you towards an intuitive approach to eating (if this is what you want). Dieticians will always consider any medical conditions that may influence your dietary needs.
The role of the family doctor
Due to the serious health risks associated with eating disorders, such as tachycardia, bradycardia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, electrolyte imbalances, and syncope, it is essential that clients are monitored by a medical professional. A family doctor will track physical health and offer medical guidance based on their findings. We strongly recommend that all clients diagnosed with an eating disorder receive regular medical supervision to ensure medical safety.
Eating Disorders and Trauma-Informed Care
Individuals with eating disorders have often experienced trauma, impacting their cognitive, emotional and social development. Trauma-informed care takes into consideration how someone’s eating disorder was protective in nature and allowed an individual to survive in environments or situations that led to them feeling unsafe.
Trauma-Informed Care is:
- Non pathologizing: asks “What is your experience” vs. “What is wrong with you”
- Supporting and accompanying people as they heal
- Understanding how past trauma can be triggered by present day experiences
- Leaving a person feeling valued for who they are rather than judged
- Assuming that each person has inherent inner wisdom and knows that is best for them
- Centering an individual’s lived experience in the offering of care rather than the professional’s opinion
Please note that one doesn’t have to be diagnosed with an eating disorder to have disordered eating patterns. Diet culture often encourages restrictive behaviors, leading to overeating and cycling weight trends. If you feel that your self-worth is tied to your body shape, weight and food choices, you may have a disordered relationship with food.