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Persistent worry about food, weight, shape, or appearance
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UNDERSTANDING EATING DIFFICULTIES
Eating Difficulties
When food, body image, or control becomes a source of distress.
Eating difficulties can affect a person's relationship with food, body image, emotions, control, identity, and self-worth. These experiences can take many forms and may not always be visible to other people.
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UNDERSTANDING THE EXPERIENCE
What is Eating Difficulties?
A person may experience restrictive eating, binge eating, compensatory behaviours, intense concern about weight or shape, rigid food rules, shame, secrecy, or emotional reliance on food. Difficulties can be serious regardless of body size.
COMMON SIGNS
The experience may look different for every person.
Possible signs of eating difficulties may include:
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Rigid rules about what, when, or how much to eat
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Episodes of feeling out of control around eating
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Avoiding meals or eating around other people
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Shame, guilt, or secrecy connected to food
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Self-worth becoming strongly connected to body image
WHEN TO SEEK SUPPORT
You do not need to wait until things become unbearable.
Professional support is important when thoughts or behaviours related to food and body image cause distress, affect physical health, interfere with daily life, or feel increasingly difficult to control.
Begin BookingIT MAY BE TIME TO SPEAK WITH A THERAPIST IF:
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Food-related thoughts occupy a large part of your day
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Eating behaviours feel secretive or difficult to control
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Your physical health or energy has changed
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Body image is affecting relationships or daily activities
HOW PSYCHOTHERAPY MAY HELP
Therapy offers space to understand the experience and build new responses.
Psychotherapy can help explore the emotional and relational meanings connected to food, body image, control, shame, and self-worth. Treatment may also require collaboration with medical and nutritional professionals.
Understand patterns
Explore situations and emotions connected to eating behaviours.
Reduce shame
Create a confidential space to discuss experiences without judgement.
Build emotional regulation
Develop alternatives for responding to distress, anxiety, and difficult emotions.
Strengthen self-worth
Develop an identity and sense of worth that are not defined only by appearance.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Treatment is adapted to each person's needs.
Eating difficulties often benefit from coordinated care. The most appropriate treatment depends on physical health, symptoms, age, severity, and individual circumstances.
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Eating-disorder-focused CBT
Addresses eating patterns, rigid rules, body-image concerns, and maintaining behaviours.
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Compassion-focused therapy
Supports work with shame, self-criticism, body image, and emotional pain.
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Multidisciplinary support
May involve psychotherapy, medical monitoring, nutritional care, and specialist services.
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An important note
This page provides general information and is not intended to diagnose a condition or replace a professional medical or psychological assessment. Some people may require support from a doctor, psychiatrist, or specialist service alongside psychotherapy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Some questions you may be carrying.
No single experience applies to everyone. A therapist can help you understand what is happening within your individual circumstances.
No. Eating disorders and significant eating difficulties can affect people at any body size. Appearance alone does not show the severity of someone's experience.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
Emotional experiences can overlap and may not fit within one category.
You can explore all areas of support or begin finding a therapist whose experience corresponds to your needs.
AAN Psychotherapy
You do not have to navigate this alone.
Begin with a few simple steps. Answer some questions, explore available therapists, and choose a time that works for you.