Areas of support Eating disorders and body image

From body image concerns to eating disorders

A person's relationship with food and their body sits on a spectrum. At one end, eating is relaxed and flexible. Further along is disordered eating, such as strict dieting or feeling out of control around food, which can be distressing without meeting criteria for an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are serious illnesses affecting physical and mental health, and recovery is possible, including after many years. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most widely known, and binge eating disorder is more common than either. In ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), eating is limited by factors such as sensory sensitivity or a fear of choking, and body image is usually not central. Many eating disorders fit none of these and are diagnosed as other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).

Who can be affected

Eating disorders and body image concerns affect people of all genders, ages, cultures and body sizes. Men and people in larger bodies may find it harder to recognise what is happening or to ask for help. LGBTQIA+ people are affected at higher rates, which researchers link to the ongoing stress of stigma and discrimination.

Eating difficulties are also more common among neurodivergent people. For some autistic people, sensory sensitivity or difficulty noticing hunger and fullness makes eating hard in ways unrelated to appearance. Some people with ADHD miss meals when busy or eat to settle restlessness. Jess has a particular interest in working with neurodivergent people and adapts sessions to sensory and attention needs.

Working as part of a care team

Jess provides psychological treatment, addressing the thoughts, feelings and patterns that maintain an eating disorder. A GP monitors physical health, which matters even when someone looks and feels well. Where helpful, a dietitian experienced in eating disorders can support a return to regular, flexible eating.

What therapy with Jess involves

Eating difficulties sometimes begin as a way of coping with something hard. Jess's assessment and formulation look at how yours began and what keeps them going, and understanding this can ease the shame that often comes with them. From there, you and Jess agree a treatment plan.

Sessions might include loosening food rules with a dietitian's input, finding other ways to manage strong emotions, and spending less time checking or comparing your body. You and Jess agree the pace of change around food, break large steps into smaller ones and review the plan regularly.