What is Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are psychological conditions that can significantly affect a person’s relationship with food and eating, and often their thoughts and feelings about weight, shape or body image. They can involve restricting food, binge eating, compensatory behaviours, rigid rules around eating, or becoming highly preoccupied with food, weight or shape.
Eating disorders can take many different forms and affect people of different ages, genders and body sizes. Importantly, not all involve concerns about weight or body image. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), for example, involves restricting or avoiding food because of factors such as sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences such as choking or vomiting, or limited interest in eating.
Whatever form they take, eating disorders can affect physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships and everyday life. Psychological support can help people understand what is contributing to their difficulties and develop a less distressing relationship with food and eating.