Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

Do you find yourself feeling anxious about eating or have a love/hate relationship with food? Do you experience an intense fear of weight gain, regardless of your body shape?

Some common warning signs include:

• Severe restriction of calories through dieting or fasting
• Excessive exercise
• Vomiting, or misuse of laxatives and diuretics
• Preoccupation with body weight and shape

When negative thoughts and behaviours around eating start to control your life, you may be experiencing an eating disorder. Eating disorders can significantly impact physical, psychological, and social health. The three most common types are:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder

Can I Recover from an Eating Disorder?

Yes! Eating disorders are treatable. Recovery typically involves a multi-disciplinary approach, often including:

• GP/Medical Support – Monitoring physical health, blood tests, heart rate, blood pressure, and medications if needed
• Dietitian or Nutritionist – Education on healthy nutrition, meal planning, and restoring normal eating behaviours
• Psychological Therapy – Including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E), Interpersonal Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family-Based Therapy (FBT/Maudsley Method), and Group Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)

CBT-E is a structured therapy that helps you gain control over eating rather than letting eating control your life. Therapy may last up to 20 sessions, with additional sessions for severe cases.

CBT-E Stages of Treatment

1. Assessment & Treatment Plan
   • Understand how your eating disorder developed and what maintains it
   • Develop a personalised treatment plan
2. Stage 1: Establish Regular Eating
   • Introduce consistent eating patterns to stabilise nutrition
3. Stage 2: Review Progress
   • Identify barriers to change and implement strategies to overcome them
4. Stage 3: Address Key Maintaining Issues
   • Tackle fear of weight gain, restrictive behaviours, perfectionism, and low self-worth
   • Identify unhelpful thoughts around eating, shape, and weight
   • Learn strategies to manage difficult emotions and stick with new eating habits
5. Stage 4: Maintain Progress & Prevent Relapse
   • Consolidate positive changes
   • Develop plans to manage challenging situations such as parties or stressful events

Getting Help for an Eating Disorder

It’s never too early or too late to seek help. If you suspect you have an eating disorder, speak to your GP about a referral to a multi-disciplinary team.

At CBT Professionals, our clinical psychologists and dieticians on the Gold Coast work together to provide comprehensive support for eating disorder recovery.

Steps to access treatment:

1. Download our Referral Information Sheet
2. Take it to your GP during an extended consultation
3. Begin therapy with a psychologist and dietician team

FAQs (SEO Optimised)

What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition characterised by harmful eating behaviours and preoccupation with body weight and shape.

What are the most common eating disorders?

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder

Can eating disorders be treated?
Yes. Treatment often involves a combination of medical monitoring, nutritional guidance, and psychological therapy.

What is CBT-E?
CBT-E (Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is a structured therapy that targets unhelpful thoughts, behaviours, and emotions maintaining an eating disorder.

Who can help me recover?
Multi-disciplinary support from psychologists, dieticians, GPs, and support groups is the most effective way to recover.