What are eating disorders and how can a nutritionist help?

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect the relationship a person has with food, their body, and themselves. They are often expressed through eating behaviours that may appear extreme or confusing to others, with the most common eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

People may engage in other harmful coping strategies involving food, eating, or exercise. These can include very restrictive diets, purging behaviours, or excessive exercise. For someone who is struggling, these behaviours may feel like a way to cope or regain a sense of control, even though they can cause serious harm.

Eating disorders are becoming increasingly common worldwide. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, global prevalence rose from 3.5% to 7.8% between 2000 and 2018. 

What eating disorders are not

An eating disorder is not:

• simply a difficulty with food
• something that will go away on its own
• the same as occasionally eating more or less than usual
• a “phase,” a caprice, or a lifestyle choice

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions and should never be minimised or dismissed.

What causes an eating disorder?

Eating disorders do not have one clear or simple cause, and can affect anyone. They usually develop through a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors, which can interact differently for each individual. For many people, an eating disorder becomes a way of coping with emotional pain, stress, or a sense of loss of control, rather than being about food itself.

Types of eating disorders

There are several types of eating disorders, each characterised by different eating behaviours and psychological challenges:

• Anorexia nervosa involves severe food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image.
• Bulimia nervosa is characterised by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• Binge eating disorder (BED) involves recurrent episodes of binge eating without compensatory behaviours and is often accompanied by feelings of guilt, shame, and distress.
• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involves restrictive eating that is not driven by concerns about body weight or shape but can still lead to nutritional deficiencies and health complications.
• Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) includes individuals who experience significant eating-disorder symptoms but do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for another eating disorder.

Mental and physical impact of eating disorders

Eating disorders can have serious consequences for both mental and physical health. Psychologically, they are often associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, obsessive thoughts about food and body image, and difficulties managing emotions. Many individuals experience feelings of guilt, shame, and distress related to eating behaviours.

Physically, eating disorders can affect nearly every body system. Possible complications include cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal disturbances, hormonal imbalances, weakened immunity, fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, reduced bone density, fertility issues, and impaired cognitive functioning. Without treatment, eating disorders can become chronic and, in severe cases, life-threatening. In fact, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate among mental health disorders.

How to recognise eating disorders: what to look for

Eating disorders can be difficult to recognise, as many people feel deep shame and fear of judgement. They may go to great lengths to hide their behaviours.

Possible signs include:

• frequently talking about food, calories, or dieting – or avoiding food conversations altogether
• difficulty eating in front of others
• finding hidden food wrappers or evidence of purging
• anxiety or agitation around mealtimes
• wearing loose or baggy clothing to hide the body
• significant or rapid weight changes
• rigid food rules or compensatory behaviours
• using food (or lack of food) to cope with difficult emotions
• guilt or distress after eating certain foods

How can a nutritionist help?

A nutritionist specialised in eating disorders can play an important role in the treatment and recovery. While eating disorders are complex mental health conditions, they often involve disrupted eating patterns, nutritional deficiencies, malnutrition and a difficult relationship with food. A nutritionist can help address these challenges by providing evidence-based nutrition guidance and ongoing support.

One of the main goals of nutritional therapy is to ensure that the body receives adequate nourishment. Many individuals with eating disorders engage in restrictive eating, binge eating, purging behaviours, or other patterns that can negatively affect physical health. A nutritionist can help create a personalised, balanced meal plan tailored to the individual's needs and stage of recovery.

Nutritionists will also focus on education about food, nourishment, and ensuring that the body is meeting its energy requirements. This can help challenge common myths about food, reduce fear around eating, and address rigid food rules that often maintain eating-disorder behaviours.

Another important aspect of treatment is helping individuals reconnect with their body's natural hunger and fullness cues and start listening to their bodies. Through mindful eating practices and structured support, a nutritionist can help rebuild trust in food and eating.

In addition, nutritionists can monitor nutritional status and identify any deficiencies or health concerns that may require medical attention. They often work closely with psychologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners, and other healthcare professionals as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.

Recovery from an eating disorder involves more than simply changing eating habits. It requires healing the relationship with food, the body, and oneself. By providing practical guidance, education, and compassionate support, a nutritionist can play a vital role in helping individuals achieve long-term recovery and improved well-being.

The role of family in eating disorders therapy 

Support from family and close relationships can be deeply protective, particularly for children and adolescents. Feeling understood, believed, and supported can make a meaningful difference in recovery.

Family members, particularly parents, often become primary carers during eating disorder recovery. A carer is someone who supports the individual by planning and preparing meals, supervising eating, and providing encouragement and emotional support during mealtimes.

Alongside support from healthcare professionals, this practical and emotional support can play an important role in helping someone navigate recovery.

If you recognise yourself or someone you love in any of the experiences described above, it is important to know that help is available and recovery is possible. Eating disorders are not a personal failure or a lack of willpower – they are serious mental health conditions that deserve care, understanding, and professional support.

Reaching out can feel frightening or overwhelming, but speaking to a trusted healthcare professional can be a powerful first step. A GP, therapist, psychiatrist and a nutritionist or dietitian specialised in eating disorders can offer guidance, assessment, and treatment tailored to individual needs. For many people, early support makes a significant difference in both physical and psychological recovery.

If you are struggling right now, you do not have to face this alone. Support services, helplines, and specialised treatment teams exist to listen without judgement and to help you find a way forward. Your experience matters, and you deserve help.