In our diet- and weight-obsessed culture, many, if not most of us struggle to make peace in our relationships with our bodies, food, and exercise at some point in our lives. Oftentimes, our attempts to improve our sense of wellness can lead to the development of rigidity, fixation, and perfectionism around food and exercise. Instead of eating based on our internal cues of hunger, craving, and fullness, many of us are taught to engage with food based on external standards such as number of calories/macronutrients or messages about “good” versus “bad” foods. Similarly, we may engage in physical exercise in an attempt to manipulate or control our bodies instead of choosing to move in ways that feel restorative and joyful to us.  Seeing photoshopped and curated images of other people’s bodies on social media often exacerbates these difficulties, even when posted under the guise of “body positivity”. 

Disordered eating sometimes takes the form of restricting food intake, binge eating, purging, dieting, and/or obsessive exercise. We may feel so dissatisfied with our physical appearance that we avoid social interactions, posing for photographs, or wearing the clothing we want to in order to hide our bodies. We may also find ourselves spending an inordinate time in front of the mirror or other reflective surface “checking” our appearance. Disordered eating and body image issues can also look like common dieting practices, like obsessive focus on “healthy” or “clean” eating, cleanses or “detoxes”, intermittent fasting, and strict food rules.

HOW WE CAN HELP

 Disordered eating treatment at Resilience supports clients in challenging diet-culture thoughts and behaviors in order to make space for a more balanced relationship with food, exercise, and your body. You and your therapist may explore mindfulness-based approaches to eating and movement (such as intuitive eating and body neutrality).  Treatment may also focus on exploring deeper causes of disordered eating, such as childhood trauma or dynamics within your family of origin.  

At Resilience, we believe that health and wellness are related to far more than food and exercise, and that weight is not related to health. Therefore, our approach to disordered eating and body image is size inclusive and emphasizes a holistic approach to health across the spectrum of body size.  

During your consultation and initial appointment, your therapist will ask you questions about your relationship with food, exercise, and your body, and you will collaborate on developing treatment goals. If a higher level of care is required to meet these goals, your therapist will support you in getting connected to the appropriate resources. 

You deserve to feel peace in your relationship with your body. If any of the above symptoms sound like you, or if you are interested in further exploring whether your relationship with food, exercise, or your body may be harming you, please reach out to us.

Common Signs and Symptoms

• Feeling chronically dissatisfied with body’s shape, size, composition, or other features of your body

• Feeling out of control when eating or exerting a significant amount of control over what, when, or how you eat

• Skipping meals, avoiding snacks, or ignoring your body’s hunger cues out of desire to change your body

• Pursuit of a certain fitness goal, diet, or “clean eating” requires avoidance or elimination of certain food groups 

• Feeling guilty if you have eaten too much of the “wrong” foods or skipped a workout

Therapists

• Alexa Keramidas, PhD

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