8 Tell-Tale Signs about Your Relationship with Food

Do you think of yourself as a ‘normal’ eater?

Perhaps you’ve not been at peace with food for so long, that your eating feels normal to you.

Maybe you have never considered yourself to be a disordered eater. After all many of the signs are accepted as ‘normal’ within our culture.

I am often approached by women seeking help for weight loss, when it's in fact their eating behaviours that we need to address. So, what are the signs of dysregulated eating? And what is the difference between ‘normal’ eating, disordered eating and eating disorders?

Dysregulated eating is complex and often misunderstood and so in the run up to Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I would like to help clarify.

Are you a disordered eater? 

You do not need to have all the signs to suffer with disordered eating. Here are 8 signs that you may be: 

1.      You restrict your food– counting calories, avoiding food groups, severe dieting

2.      You experience some bingeing episodes (but do not meet diagnostic criteria for Binge Eating Disorder)

3.      You find yourself excessively exercising in order to change your body size

4.      You sometimes vomit after eating (self -induced)

5.      You use laxatives in order to change your body size or diet pills.

6.      You experience a degree of body image distortion

7.      You make judgments about yourself and your value based on your body size, weight or shape

8.      You are persistently preoccupied with food, dieting, eating and your body

Eating disorder sufferers will go on a journey and the signs of disordered eating may indicate that they are heading in this direction. Eating disorders and disordered eaters are on the same continuum - it is very easy for a disordered eater to slip in to eating disorder territory. It is also possible for people to experience several eating disorders in their lifetime, they often morph from one to another.

The eating disorder charity BEAT estimates that 1.25 million people are currently suffering from an eating disorder in the UK. This is only the only the tip of the iceberg representing those who have been officially diagnosed. Many others remain undiagnosed, so the figure is likely to be higher.

Eating disorders are common in individuals between 14 and 25 years but you may be surprised to hear that they have been seen in children as young as 6 and in people in their 70s. They can affect people regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, age and body size. One of the biggest misconceptions being that someone must be underweight in order to have an eating disorder.

So what does a balanced relationship with food and body look like?

·         You exercise for fun and health

·         You have a good body image – accept it without trying too hard to change it, or evaluate it

·         Your overall eating patterns are balanced (perhaps you miss the odd meal or occasionally overeat)

·         You do not obsess over food, eating, diets or your body

·         You might emotionally eat sometimes- but this is not your only coping mechanism and it does not cause you distress.

If you are struggling with an unhealthy relationship with food and your body or believe you may be suffering with an eating disorder, please reach out for help.

I work with a limited number of clients to offer one to one support over a minimum of 3 months and would be happy to have a chat with you to see how I can help. If you would be better suited to work with another practitioner, I will let you know, and sign post you accordingly.

Book in a complimentary call HERE to find out how I can help.

You can also come and join me in The Food Freedom Collective community – a free group to support you on journey to find freedom around food and your body.

What you probably don’t know about eating disorders + disordered eating

In light of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I would like to dispel some of the myths surrounding eating disorders. I work with many women who suffer with these debilitating conditions which are often misunderstood. I am also approached by countless women who are seeking help for weight loss, when it's their eating challenges that specifically need addressing. They often show signs of disordered eating behaviour.

The eating disorder charity BEAT estimates that 1.25 million people are currently suffering from an eating disorder in the UK. However, this figure only represents those who have been officially diagnosed. Many others remain undiagnosed, so the figure is likely to be higher.

Eating disorders are common in individuals between 14 and 25 years but you may be surprised to hear that they have been seen in children as young as 6 and in people in their 70s. They can affect people regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, age and body size. One of the biggest misconceptions being that someone must be underweight in order to have an eating disorder.

It is unlikely that someone will just wake up one day and have an eating disorder. These individuals will go on a journey and there are signs to look out for that they may be heading in this direction. Some of the signs include severe dieting and restriction (of calories /macros), over evaluation of their body/ distorted body image, frequent bingeing and excessive exercise in order to change their body size. 

Eating disorders and disordered eaters are on the same continuum and it is very easy for a disordered eater to slip in to eating disorder territory. It is also possible for people to experience several eating disorders in their lifetime, they often morph from one to another.

One in fifty will experience this illness….

It is estimated that as many as one in fifty people experience Binge Eating Disorder (BED) -the most common eating disorder. Regrettably, few people understand that it is an eating disorder in its own right. often BED sufferers feel they are not taken seriously, feel judged, shame and intense guilt.

People with this illness, do not enjoy bingeing, as some may believe. It involves episodes of eating much more rapidly than normal, eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry until feeling uncomfortably full. The episodes can be exceptionally distressing for the individual who will often eat alone and isolate themselves to do so.

If you are struggling with an unhealthy relationship with food and your body or believe you may be suffering with an eating disorder, please reach out for help.

I work with a limited number of clients to offer one to one support over a minimum of 12 weeks and would be happy to have a chat with you to see how I can help. If you would be better suited to work with another practitioner, I will let you know, and sign post you accordingly. Book in a complimentary call HERE to find out how I can help.