Raising Awareness: Understanding Eating Disorders During Eating Disorder Awareness Week
As we begin Eating Disorder Awareness Week, it’s an important time to pause, reflect, and bring attention to a topic that affects millions of people worldwide. At Being and Becoming Counselling and Wellness Services, we specialise in the treatment and support of individuals struggling with eating disorders, and we believe that awareness, education, and compassionate care are vital steps toward healing. In this post, we aim to provide psychoeducation on eating disorders, shed light on common misconceptions, and offer guidance on how to support yourself or a loved one on the journey to wellness.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterised by disturbances in eating behaviours and related thoughts and emotions. These disorders are not simply about food, weight, or appearance—they are complex conditions that involve biological, psychological, and social factors. They can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, body size, or background.
The most common types of eating disorders include:
Anorexia Nervosa: Characterised by extreme restriction of food intake, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. Individuals with anorexia often see themselves as overweight even when underweight, and this disorder can lead to severe physical health complications.
Atypical Anorexia Nervosa: A subtype of anorexia nervosa where individuals experience the same psychological symptoms and restrictive behaviours as anorexia (e.g., intense fear of weight gain, body image distortion) but their weight remains within or above a “normal” range. This can make the disorder less visible to others, though the emotional and physical risks are just as serious.
Bulimia Nervosa: Marked by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives. People with bulimia may maintain a body weight that appears typical, which can make the disorder less visible but equally serious.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Involves recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food in a short period, often accompanied by feelings of shame or guilt. Unlike bulimia, binge eating episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviours. BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States and can contribute to both emotional and physical health challenges.
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED): This category captures eating disorders that do not meet the exact criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or BED but are nonetheless serious. Symptoms may include restrictive eating, purging behaviours, or body image concerns. Atypical anorexia is technically classified under OSFED in some diagnostic manuals, highlighting that serious eating disorders can exist at any weight.
Factors That Contribute to Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are complex conditions that rarely stem from a single cause. They often develop from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Understanding these contributors can help reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek appropriate support.
Biological Factors: Genetics can predispose individuals to eating disorders. Brain chemistry and neurotransmitters that regulate mood, hunger, and reward systems may also contribute to disordered eating behaviours.
Psychological Factors: Many individuals with eating disorders experience anxiety, depression, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, or difficulty regulating emotions and self-worth.
Social and Cultural Factors: Societal pressures to achieve a specific body shape or weight, exposure to idealised media images, critical comments about appearance, family dynamics, peer influences, stressful life events, and food insecurity—the lack of reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food—can all contribute to disordered eating. For some individuals, food insecurity may lead to bingeing when food is available, restrictive behaviours out of fear of scarcity, or heightened anxiety around meals.
In addition to these factors, trauma—such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse—and chronic dieting or restrictive eating behaviours can increase vulnerability to eating disorders. Trauma can influence coping mechanisms and self-perception, while dieting can trigger patterns of restriction, bingeing, or over-control around food.
Eating disorders are not a choice or a lifestyle preference. They are serious mental health conditions that require understanding, compassion, and evidence-based treatment.
Warning Signs and Symptoms
Recognising the early signs of an eating disorder is crucial for timely intervention. While symptoms can vary depending on the specific disorder, some common warning signs include:
Changes in eating habits: Skipping meals, extreme dieting, hoarding or hiding food, or sudden shifts in appetite.
Obsessive focus on weight, shape, or calories: Constantly checking mirrors, measuring body parts, or weighing oneself multiple times a day.
Physical signs: Unexplained weight loss or fluctuations, dizziness, fatigue, hair thinning, or changes in skin appearance.
Emotional and behavioural changes: Withdrawal from social activities, mood swings, irritability, perfectionism, or secrecy around meals.
Ritualistic behaviours: Excessive exercise, purging behaviours, or strict adherence to self-imposed rules around food.
It is especially important to recognise that atypical anorexia can exist at any weight, so a person does not need to appear underweight for their eating disorder to be serious or life-threatening.
If you or a loved one notice these signs, it is important to seek professional help. Early intervention increases the likelihood of recovery and reduces the risk of long-term health complications.
Myths and Misconceptions About Eating Disorders
Misunderstandings about eating disorders are common and can contribute to stigma. Here are some myths we frequently encounter at Being and Becoming Counselling and Wellness Services:
Myth: Eating disorders are a choice.
Truth: Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. They are not simply a matter of willpower or self-discipline.Myth: Only young women are affected.
Truth: Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, and body types. Men, older adults, and children can also experience these conditions, though they are often underdiagnosed.Myth: Eating disorders are about vanity.
Truth: While body image may be a factor, eating disorders are primarily about control, coping, and managing emotions. They are rarely about aesthetics alone.Myth: You can tell if someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.
Truth: Many individuals with eating disorders appear to have a “normal” weight. Atypical anorexia is a key example, where someone may be medically at a healthy weight yet still face serious health risks due to restrictive eating behaviours.
Dispelling these myths is a critical step toward reducing stigma and encouraging individuals to seek support.
Evidence-Based Approaches to Treatment
At Being and Becoming Counselling and Wellness Services, we use a holistic, evidence-based approach to support clients in recovery. Treatment combines psychotherapy and nutritional guidance to address the psychological, emotional, and behavioural aspects of eating disorders.
Our psychotherapy approach focuses on behavioural change, emotional processing, body reconnection, self-compassion, and fostering a healthier relationship with food. We also integrate strategies that support nervous system regulation and intuitive eating, helping clients rebuild trust with their bodies and develop sustainable coping skills.
Our dietitians provide nutritional guidance to help clients make sustainable changes that ensure adequate nourishment, support overall health, and foster a balanced relationship with food—without providing prescriptive meal plans.
Medical Considerations: While we do not provide medical monitoring, eating disorders—including bulimia and atypical anorexia—can cause serious physical complications. We encourage clients to maintain regular checkups and work with their healthcare providers to ensure safety during recovery.
Supporting Recovery: How You Can Help
If you have a loved one struggling with an eating disorder, your support can make a significant difference. Here are some tips:
Listen without judgement: Offer a safe space for your loved one to share their feelings without criticism or unsolicited advice.
Encourage professional help: Gently suggest they seek support from a qualified therapist or healthcare provider specialising in eating disorders.
Avoid commenting on appearance: Focus on health, feelings, and behaviours rather than weight or shape.
Educate yourself: Learn about eating disorders to understand what your loved one is experiencing. Knowledge fosters empathy and reduces stigma.
Practice patience: Recovery is a gradual process with ups and downs. Celebrate small victories and offer consistent support.
Celebrating Eating Disorder Awareness Week
Eating Disorder Awareness Week is an opportunity to start conversations, educate communities, and reduce stigma. This week, we encourage you to:
Share educational resources: Help friends and family understand eating disorders and the importance of seeking help.
Listen and support: Reach out to someone who may be struggling and offer non-judgemental support.
Reflect on your own relationship with food and body image: Awareness can lead to healthier habits and self-compassion.
Advocate for mental health: Support policies and programmes that increase access to eating disorder treatment.
At Being and Becoming Counselling and Wellness Services, we are committed to guiding individuals and families through recovery with empathy, evidence-based care, and personalised support. Healing from an eating disorder is possible, and awareness is the first step toward that journey.
Final Thoughts
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that deserve understanding, compassion, and professional support. During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, let us come together to educate, break stigma, and uplift those affected. Remember, recovery is not linear, but with the right support, guidance, and resources, healing is achievable.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder—including anorexia, atypical anorexia, bulimia, BED, or OSFED—we encourage you to reach out to a trained professional at Being and Becoming Counselling and Wellness Services. You do not have to face this journey alone—help is available, and recovery is possible.
Resources & Support
National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC): https://nedic.ca
Looking Glass Foundation: https://www.lookingglassbc.com
Body Peace Canada: https://www.bodypeacecanada.ca