Mindful Body and Recovery Program

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses that cause people to experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors in relation to their thoughts and emotions. The most frequently diagnosed eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder, and ARFID. Anyone can develop an eating disorder regardless of their age, race, gender or ethnicity.

What are the types of Eating Disorders?

• Anorexia
  • An inability to sustain a normal healthy weight relative to average weight for age, height and gender.
  • Those suffering from anorexia:
    • have an intense fear of gaining weight.
    • have a distorted body image.
    • have a preoccupation with food, cooking, or dieting.
• Bulimia
  • Self-induced vomiting after binge-eating to avoid weight gain.
  • Those suffering from bulimia:
    • feel a lack of control over their eating.
    • use the bathroom frequently after meals.
    • engage in vomiting, laxative or exercise abuse.
• Binge-Eating Disorder (BED)
  • The consumption of very large amounts of food in a brief period during which the person feels a loss of control over their eating.
  • Those suffering from BED:
    • eat large amount of food when not hungry.
    • eat to cope with emotions.
    • show signs of depression and withdrawal.
• Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
  • ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a condition that limits your food intake. It isn’t caused by a negative self-image or a desire to change your body weight.
  • Those suffering from ARFID:
    • lose interest in eating.
    • feel anxious about the consequences of eating, like choking on food or vomiting.
    • avoid foods that have an unwanted color, taste, texture or smell.

Treating Eating Disorders

• Visit your primary physician/pediatrician regularly for physicals and check-ins.
• Avoid using food as medicine.
• Seek emotional support.
• Utilize evidence-based treatments, including Family-Based Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviews.
• Use a multidisciplinary approach, which includes clinical staff, primary healthcare, physicians, a psychiatrist, and a registered dietitian.
• Be kind to yourself throughout the journey.

Know the Signs

• Dramatic restriction of types or amount of food eaten.
• Lack of appetite or interest in food.
• Anxiety regarding weight, meal time, and social activities or gatherings.
• Dramatic weight loss.
• Denial of hunger.

Support for Families

• F.E.A.S.T. walks alongside families as they navigate the challenges of their loved one’s eating disorder.
  • https://feast-ed.org/feast-family-guides/
• The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) works to advance research, build community, and raise awareness to support the nearly 30 million Americans who will experience an eating disorder in their lifetimes.
  • View their Parent Toolkit: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/nedaw18/1.%20ParentToolkit.pdf
• The Parents Survive To Thrive Guide offered by BC Children’s Hospital, and written by parents with lived experience, explores management of eating disorder behaviors, relapse, maintaining recovery, and some of the tricky scenarios you may run into, from shopping for new clothes to managing family conflict.
  • Parents Survive to Thrive Guide: https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BCMH026_EatingDisorder_FullGuide_v6-Web.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I access services for myself or a loved one?

Simply call our CARES Line at (800) 499-3008 to speak with a caring professional who will help you get started. Our CARES line team can assist you in finding the appropriate mental health, behavioral health and substance use resources and treatments.