What are eating disorders?

 

Eating disorders are serious mental and physical illnesses that involve complex and damaging relationships with food, eating, exercise, and body image. There are many misconceptions about the causes of eating disorders. Eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or background. Here at South Eastern Active Health, our Eating Disorder Dietitian -Maddie Lawson can work with individuals experiencing the following conditions (diagnosis or no diagnosis):

  • Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
  • Negative food relationship
  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Eating concerns
  • Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED)
  • Anorexia Nervosa
  • Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
  • Disordered eating
  • Orthorexia

How Can a Dietitian Help those Experiencing Disordered Eating or an Eating Disorder?

 

Dietitians play a crucial role in supporting individuals with eating disorders or disordered eating on their journey towards recovery. With their specialised knowledge of nutrition and its impact on health, Dietitians like Maddie work closely with eating disorder patients to develop personalised dietary and health behaviour strategies that promote nourishment, balance, and gentle and gradual progress.

They understand the complex relationship between food and emotions, helping patients navigate their fears and anxieties surrounding food. In addition to providing education on healthy eating habits, Dietitians also collaborate with the patient’s treatment team, including psychologists, GPS and other medical professionals, to ensure a holistic approach to recovery.  Their empathy, compassion, and expertise empower eating disorder patients to develop a healthier relationship with food, exercise and their body, whilst fostering long-term well-being and overall health.

Maddie, our eating disorder Dietitian is available for face to face consultations in our clinic in Bentleigh East or virtually via Zoom. More information can be found here.

Dietitian consultations via Zoom are very common now, so if you live regionally or interstate, you are still able to book an appointment with Maddie.

Call (03) 9570 1552 or book online here

 

Other Nutrition Services

Food intolerances

Food intolerances include a wide range of reactions to certain components in food. They can present with various symptoms from bloating, stomach pains and altered bowel habits to skin reactions (rashes, hives and eczema), extreme fatigue and headaches.

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Diabetes

Nutrition plays an integral role in the managing and preventing complications of diabetes. This is because food has a direct impact on blood glucose levels, which are important to keep within an appropriate range for good health.

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Cardiovascular health

Having a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to protect your heart health. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in Australia, eating well for heart health couldn’t be more important.

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Weight management

If you are concerned about your weight, your food and nutrition intake may have a role to play. Whether your goal is to lose weight or increase weight, it is important to ensure that you are meeting nutritional requirements and creating long-lasting change.

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Gastrointestinal / Gut Health

Gastrointestinal health is a specialised area of nutrition which includes tailored advice to managing uncomfortable symptoms and conditions affecting the digestive system. Conditions affecting the digestive system include chronic constipation, diarrhoea, reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Colitis and Crohn’s Disease), diverticular disease and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

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Healthy Eating

A nutritious diet is one of key foundations to living a healthy and enjoyable life. Nutrition plays a role in essentially every bodily system, however individual nutrition requirements vary from person to person. Making the best eating choices for your body is key to enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

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Nutritional deficiencies

Nutritional deficiencies are a common occurrence. Missing out on vital nutrients can have significant impacts on health. A dietitian can identify gaps in your diet where you may be missing nutrients, and provide advice on the best ways to address this.

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Plant Based Eating

There are many health benefits associated with eating a plant-rich diet, however when making changes to your diet, it is important to know which foods are suitable alternatives of important nutrients.

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Emotional Eating

Do you find yourself turning to food when you’re stressed, frustrated or tired? Turning to food to handle emotions is common, however it can lead to a poor relationship with food and interfere with maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle.

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