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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Do I have an eating disorder?

    Related Topic
    Eating Disorders
    I weigh myself everyday and when i eat something i regret it and consider throwing up if i havent already. I dont throw up a lot. I just do it when i really need to, which is once in awhile. I dont have bulimia but i think maybe anorexia because sometimes i starve myself for many days and eat very little (500 calories or less) and i will lose 1-2 pounds a day or remain the same. Whenever i gain a pound or two i feel like Im right back to being 133lbs (im 118 now). I would like to know if i need any help or should lose more weight!!!
    • 2 answers
    • Alysha Coleman
    • Jane O'Shea
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  • Alysha Coleman

    Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor, Psychologist

    Alysha is the Primary Clinical Psychologist and Director of The Institute for Healthy Living, a clinical psychology practice in Bondi Junction. Alysha has worked with … View Profile

    It sounds like what you eat and how much you weigh is taking up a lot of time and energy. Would you agree? Although, like many, you might have originally set out with a goal to be healthy, it also sounds like you feel driven to use quite extreme restriction to control your weight. Eating disorders can be very over-powering and also very sneaky - they can creep up in a disguise and it can be difficult to spot them. I would suggest speaking to your GP or a specialist Psychologist soon to find out more about what unhelpful patterns could be happening and why it might be worth working towards finding more balance in your eating (and your life). 

    I'd also suggest having a look at http://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/ 

    The Butterfly Foundation is a great starting point to start better understanding the sneaky patterns that could be at play.

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  • Jane O'Shea

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    I am an Accredited Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian. I am also a licensee for the “Am I Hungry?” Mindful Eating Program, “Am I Hungry” … View Profile

    Having a diagnosed eating disorder requires expert treatment and professional help shoud be sought.

    But disordered eating could be defined as being when someone believes they have a less than healthy relationship with food and food is used as a coping strategy, to sooth, to comfort, to entertain etc.  It is common to see people who struggle with their weight to have quite disordered thoughts about food and disordered patterns of eating.

    Disordered eating patterns can be overcome, not with dieting and restrictive eating practices as this makes the matter worse, but with the use of mindfulness and mindful eating.

    If you are not sure where to start, I recommend visiting www.amihungry.com

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