Disordered eating

Including Compulsive eating, Comfort eating, Emotional eating, Overeating, Obesity, Under eating, Yo-yo dieting, Extreme dieting, or Occasional binging.

Disordered eating

Many people, women and men, old and young, battle with various eating issues without developing a full-blown eating disorder. These have many similarities to clinical eating disorders (anorexia & bulimia) but will generally be triggered only in specific circumstances. For example many people comfort eat after a break-up or when grieving. Other people overeat when stressed, anxious or angry. Other's may crave certain foods in certain situations.

This can result in many different problems. Such patterns can become a problem, especially when linked to self-esteem. Issues includes:

• comfort eating / emotional eating
• body-image or self-esteem issues
• food cravings
• occasional binging, compulsive eating or overeating
• yo-yo dieting, extreme diets or under eating
• obesity and diet related health issues (diabetes, heart disease, cancer risk etc)

Eating dilemmas

Eating problems take many forms. Negative spirals can kick in with weight gain, resulting in loss of esteem and comfort eating. This emotional self-soothing eating is a common pattern with depression, anxiety, boredom, loneliness, grieving and with anger. (However, other people lose their appetite when emotionally challenged.) The lucky will be able to self-manage these problems. Others will find self-help resources such as books or phone apps invaluable. Many will find guidance though friends, family, dieticians, nutritionists, support groups or structured programmes. But if such issues are causing ongoing distress, then profession help is called for.

Seeking help

Eating disorder specialists are experienced in working with clinical eating disorders (anorexia & bulimia). This depth of clinical experience and knowledge makes them well-placed to work with all manner of eating issues. They help you to:

• understand triggers
• gain psychological insight
• develop strategies
• address broader life issues
• support constructive change

Also see clinical Eating disorders