Have I Got An Eating Disorder?

Before you read on about signs and symptoms and how they relate to you, we have included some points for consideration:

• You do not need to have ALL of the characteristics listed, to have an eating disorder. If one or more stand out for you, then it is important that you take them seriously.

• A large majority of people with an eating disorder do not look frail, skeletal or overweight. This is because we all have differing body shapes and sizes. Your thoughts, feelings and behaviours are a more accurate measure of wellness.

• It is common for people with an eating disorder to present with symptoms from 2 or more eating disorders. This is called Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). An example of this would be, a person who binge eats but restricts their food intake leading up to the binge.

What Is An Eating Disorder?
Types of Eating Disorders
How Do I Seek Help?
Getting A Diagnosis
What To Expect From Your GP

What Is An Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are serious and complex issues relating to eating behaviours, body image, and weight with strong medical and psychological components. Both women and men at any age can develop an eating disorder. You can also be on any spectrum of the weight range, you may not be underweight. Eating disorders are characterised by severe disturbances in eating behaviour, and perception of body shape and weight. You will most often assess yourself in terms weight and shape, and engage in sometimes extreme behaviours to control this. It is important to realise that even though eating disorders are primarily about food, the eating aspect is merely the outward sign of the issues that are underlying it. Therefore, recovery form an eating disorder is not as simple as ‘just eating normally’.

Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia is generally characterised by a restriction of food resulting in severe weight loss. Despite possible low weight, you may often continue to regard yourself as being overweight, and will continue to restrict food intake or try to maintain that low weight. For further information please click here.

Bulimia Nervosa: As with someone with anorexia, with bulimia there is an extreme fear of becoming overweight, and in an effort to control weight, will engage in some form of purging behaviour. For more information please click here.

Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder is in many ways similar to bulimia nervosa in that there is a sense of lack of control over eating, but there are no compensative behaviours. For more information please click here.

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS): EDNOS is a term used when a person shows signs of disordered eating but does not meet all of the diagnostic criteria for one of the three Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) recognised eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder. For further information please click here.

How Do I Seek Help?

If you suspect you may have an eating disorder, the first step is admitting to yourself that something is wrong. While internal acceptance and acknowledgement is an integral part of the process, attempting to tackle an eating disorder alone is extremely difficult as the underlying psychological issues are often quite complicated. It is therefore important to talk to somebody when you recognise something isn’t quite right.

Depending on your situation and support network, you may decide to confide in somebody close to you before seeking professional help. Telling someone for the first time can be an incredibly daunting experience, but can also bring with it a great sense of relief as you are no longer carrying your concerns alone.

When considering who you will talk to about a potential eating disorder, it is important to confide in somebody you think will support you in finding the best path to getting better. Ensure you talk to somebody trustworthy, sensitive and understanding with whom you feel most comfortable.

There are many avenues available to you in reaching out for help:

From a Family Member or Close Friend

You may decide that telling somebody close to you is the best avenue for you in taking the first step to addressing your situation. Telling somebody for the first time can be very difficult as you may be unsure about the problems you are facing, or the help you might need, so saying it out loud can make it feel all the more real. Although this initial step may seem daunting, sharing your problems with somebody close to you can bring with it a great sense of relief as you no longer feel alone in the situation.

For further information and tips on telling somebody about your eating disorder, please download a copy of the EDV Eating Disorders and Telling Someone fact sheet.

From Your Community

There may be somebody in your community you feel comfortable talking to about your concerns, such as a teacher, youth group leader, sports coach or family friend who represents a supportive figure in your life. Some people will feel more comfortable talking to a person outside of their immediate circle of family and friends because the level of emotional attachment is less significant. Everybody’s situation is unique and personal, so it is important you choose the avenue most suitable for you.

From Your GP or Health Professional

There are a range of health care professionals who specialise in the field of eating disorders and represent a very helpful point of contact. Your GP will begin by asking a few questions to determine your health condition, and will then make recommendations for the best avenue for professional assistance. Your GP can refer you to a psychologist or nutritionist in your local area who can take you to the next step towards recovery. EDV’s Helpfinder service provides a referral list of doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and other health professionals across Victoria who have an interest and/or experience in the field of eating disorders to help put you in touch with the best avenue of support for you. To access the EDV Helpfinder service, please contact the Eating Disorders Helpline on 1300 550 236 or email help@eatingdisorders.org.au

From Eating Disorders Victoria

The Eating Disorders Helpline is a first point of call for anyone in the community who has a worry about an eating disorder or a related issue. Call 1300 550 236. Eating Disorders Victoria has a range of services available in helping you take the next step to addressing a potential eating disorder. To explore the range of services EDV provides click here.

Getting A Diagnosis

The first point of contact should be a General Practitioner (GP) who can provide an initial assessment of your physical state and diagnose the nature and severity of the eating disorder. A dietician, psychologist or psychiatrist can also provide a diagnosis, however it is recommended you visit a GP as they can provide you with options and referrals for further treatment in light of your personal circumstances and current physical state.

Where possible, it’s best to see a GP who has experience and knowledge in the field of eating disorders. The right GP might be your regular doctor or you may need to ask around to find somebody who will provide you with the help and guidance you need. Where an eating disorder is not diagnosed but you are still aware of warning signs, it is encouraged that people get a second opinion or get a diagnosis from another health professional such as a psychologist. Eating Disorders Victoria has a Helpfinder service - a database of public treatment services and experienced private practitioners which you can access by contacting The Eating Disorders Helpline on 1300 550 236 or email help@eatingdisorders.org.au .

What To Expect From Your GP

Your GP should cover the following points during your initial or follow-up consultation. It is important you know what to expect prior to your consultation so you are prepared. Your consultation is likely to cover the following areas:

A physical check-up
A diagnosis of the nature of your eating disorder and an explanation of the illness itself, including potential complications
Guidance on the options available to you from other health professionals and the role they play in assisting recovery
A referral to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist for more detailed, psychiatric/psychological assessment and treatment
A referral to a dietician for specialist dietary support and treatment
Information about other support services
A discussion of treatment options available to you and a referral to the most suitable service based on your physical and psychological condition.
For severe cases where body weight is critically low you may be referred to a hospital and/or in-patient treatment facility to restore weight and physical health.

Last revision date: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 14:21