Eating Disorders - How to get help

19 Nov

Over a million Australians are currently living with an eating disorder (that's about 4% of our population).

Scarily, only about one quarter of these people are engaged in treatment for their illness. With the highest mortality rate of any of the mental health disorders, it's extremely important that someone living with an eating disorder has a team of medical professionals to provide the right care.

Who gets eating disorders?

Whilst we often have preconceived ideas about what an eating disorder might look like, eating disorders and body image issues affect all kinds of people. The doctors consulting at Neighbourhood Medical see people of all sizes, shapes, ages, abilities, sexualities, genders and social backgrounds affected by eating disorders.

What are some of the symptoms of an eating disorder?

Just like those that it effects, eating disorders take many forms and can present in a range of ways. Sometimes people intentionally limit what they eat, sometimes people look for ways to 'burn off' or compensate for the food they have consumed with excessive exercise, laxative use or purging. Other people have difficulty controlling their intake and may get stuck in a cycle of binge eating to manage difficult emotions. All eating disorders have one thing in common - that food intake, weight and/or shape results in difficult to manage feelings and emotions about the way that someone sees themselves as a person.

If you think you (or someone you know) are experiencing an eating disorder you can fill out a screening questionnaire from InsideOut here.

What causes eating disorders?

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses, often with significant physical manifestations. There are genetic, biological, environmental and societal influences that can all contribute to the development of eating disorders. Eating disorders are commonly seen in people with a history of trauma and in individuals for whom there is a family history of eating disorders. Many people with eating disorders also have other mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and OCD.

Why should I get help?

If you have concerns about your relationship with food and/or your body, it is vital to get advice, support and treatment straight away. You do not need to wait to have a full-blown eating disorder to take steps towards addressing your concerns. Eating disorder are serious and potentially life-threatening. We know from the research that early intervention can increase the speed of your recovery.

If you already have an eating disorder, it can be hard to take the initial steps to seek help, but the sooner you have a support network in place, the sooner you can take steps towards recovery. It is very normal to feel anxious about seeking care. Often controlling food intake and other behaviours associated with eating disorders provide a sense of comfort and control.

What will my GP do?

You only need to take one step at a time, speaking with a GP is a great first step! Please book a long consult (30mins) - eating disorder care is complex and requires additional time.

Your GP will ask you some more questions to help confirm a diagnosis, perform an examination including checking your vital signs and an ECG to check your heart, order any required investigations and refer you to other specialists that might need to be involved in your care (usually a dietitian, psychologist and psychiatrist).

I've heard about a Eating Disorder Management Plan, what is it?

Some people with eating disorders are eligible under specific Medicare criteria to access sessions with a psychologist and dietitian with a Medicare rebate. This is a much needed federally funded initiative to improve access to a team of eating disorder clinicians. Individuals who are eligible can access to up to 40 psychologist visits and 20 dietitian visits in a 12-month period. The Eating Disorder Management Plan is completed and regularly reviewed by your GP. Your GP will help determine if you are eligible for an Eating Disorder Management Plan.

Where can I find more information?

Outside of speaking with your GP, there are a number of excellent resources to support people with eating disorders and their support network: