Confidence is not one-size-fits-all, but it does play a role in preventing eating disorders. Yes, EDs are complex and can’t be boiled down to a single cause, but studies show that negative body image is a major contributing factor to the development of EDs. So......
There are many different types of therapy readily available to choose from, for those seeking help. In fact a quick search on google will quickly lead you to all sorts of options, from the more commonly known avenues of CBT, ACT and relationship counselling to......
For a long time, we’ve wanted to change the name of our ‘Psychological Approaches to Obesity’ course. People often object to the word ‘Obesity’, unlike the word ‘Fat’ which is being reclaimed, promoted, and is often used by body positivity activists. We pondered and rejected......
Do not delay! If someone has an eating disorder, the evidence is clear that early intervention is more likely to result in a successful recovery. Please don’t wait for a significant change in weight or behaviour. Don’t feel that you are being over dramatic. Start......
Advertising is everywhere. It’s such a normal part of modern life than we now accept it without question. If we want to read a newspaper article, we often have to sit through an advertisement or answer a question to be able to access the content.......
Managing clients with eating disorders and obesity is a tough job! Its made almost fruitless without addressing the biochemical imbalances they are experiencing because of their condition. Good mental health, behavioural change and emotional reframing rely on restoring the body’s ability to produce and react......
This is my body! It has some medical problems. I treated it badly for 30 years and its fighting back! Feeding my emotions with food and alcohol instead of love and acceptance has made my body heavy and tired. My back has been painful, my......
by Bianca Skilbeck Coinciding with Body Image & Eating Disorder Awareness Week (BIEDAW) is the Butterfly Foundations “Love Your Body Week” which runs from 3rd-9th September. With that in mind, there is no better time than now to start to think about the ways in......
Ever wonder why your partner eats too much, even when you warn him or her not to? It could be precisely because your admonitions put your partner into a state of reactance, causing them to go against your advice just to prove their independence. Reactance......
A couple of weeks ago I made an amazing discovery. Thanks to a facebook advertisement from a local health club, I now realise that I have two bodies; a winter body and a summer body. The summer body, is apparently made in the winter, so......
Many people refer to themselves as compulsive eaters and say “I eat when I’m happy, and I eat when I’m sad”, so it’s worth considering what we can do to help understand the dissatisfied eater. Dissatisfied eaters eat heavily, need lots of variety, have a......
There is no substitute for professional help when you have an eating disorder. However, there are some simple things you can do to help yourself. 1. Regular eating Perhaps you are not eating enough to meet your energy needs. Regular eating to provide energy and......
Many girls agree their mother has the biggest influence on their own self-image and they have adopted their mothers’ views on food and dieting. A 2009 magazine survey of 512 teenage girls with an average age of 14 found: 38% said their mother had the......
For many people emotional eating has caused a lifelong union with the cycle of weight loss, then weight gain known as yo-yo dieting. Common struggles include feeling out of control when you eat, not being able to stop eating, or not caring whilst you binge,......
1800s – A teeny tiny waist will make you the envy of all your friends, so a corset is a must-have for the ladies. The tighter, the better. The smelling salts are always at hand if you faint! 1863 – William Banting writes a pamphlet......
“I’m so sorry for crying” she said, “but you are the first person to recognise there is a genuine problem”. Diane grabbed a tissue, and told me her story. Diane had become very worried about her 12-year-old daughter Sarah. Sarah was rapidly losing weight and......
Food labelling gives manufacturers a great opportunity to sell their product to you at a time when you are ready to buy, at the supermarket. Words like ‘Natural’ and ‘Goodness’ are often emblazoned on the front of the package in a bold font, whilst the......
Trackorexia You won’t find this word in any diagnostic manuals, but the new trend of wearing an activity tracker such as a FitBit, could lead to an eating disorder. Unlike the bathroom scales, which we can leave at home, the tracker provides an opportunity to......
It’s a question that often comes up on our health practitioner courses. How can we distinguish a child who is a fussy eater, from one that has an eating disorder? This is an important concern for parents as well as health professionals. We don’t want......
Stop negative self-talk. Do the things you say about your body make you feel better about yourself? If not, stop it now! Look for the good stuff instead. Do you have a talent? Are you a good friend? Are you witty? We all have something......