• Eating distress is a disease where the mind absorbs all the negative assumptions the person has about him or herself, i.e. the negative thoughts become more powerful than the positive thoughts, and have much more influence on the person’s thinking, feelings and behaviour. This state of mind develops subconsciously and the person is not aware that they are the victim of this negative condition. • Often we read that sufferers have low self-esteem. However, in reality they have no sense of self at all. • People suffering from eating distress have difficulty with the simple act of eating when hungry and stopping when they are full. The condition takes over control of their food intake.

Often it can be recognised by an unhealthy obsession with food and body, which becomes centre stage in the sufferer’s life. Food becomes the most important relationship, but it is never a happy or easy one. Slowly and surely, everything else is eventually excluded while thoughts constantly centre on food or the body.

• Eating distress is not primarily about food, starving or binge eating. It is the outward sign of inner emotional or psychological distress, and becomes the way that people cope with difficulties in their life. Eating or not eating is used to help block out painful feelings.

• Without specialised help and treatment, eating problems may persist throughout the person’s life.

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating are the three most common forms of eating distress.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterised as:

Difficulty in maintaining a minimum weight for height

Significant weight loss

Fear of weight gain or fatness

Disturbance in body image

Loss of menstrual periods in females

BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterised as:

Recurrent episodes of binge – eating followed by compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain e.g. self-induced vomiting

Self-esteem is unduly influenced by body-shape and weight

BINGE EATING is characterised as:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating in the absence of compensatory behaviours generally leading to weight gain