Functions That an Eating Disorder Serves

Do you have clients that are struggling to make progress in their eating disorder recovery and are counting to engage in eating disorder behaviours? Perhaps your client is feeling tremendous shame and embarrassment for having an eating disorder.

Eating disorders present as being about food and body image, but are far more complex. Understanding the function that an eating disorder serves:

• Allows a person to identify how they can cope, or meet an unmet need without their eating disorder.
• Can help to increase self-compassion and reduce shame about why they are using an eating disorder behaviour or have an eating disorder.
• Increases awareness surrounding the triggers for eating disorder behaviours and the development of the eating disorder, which is a helpful tool for relapse prevention!
• Allows for greater understanding and connection between the individual with their true values, desires and needs.
• Can help to foster deeper compassion and understanding for the individual (from loved ones).

This non-branded handout identifies different ways that an Eating disorder may help a person or the function that it may serve. It also provides space for your client to reflect on how they may have, or still need their eating disorder. The insights gained from this reflection and discussion can be used with motivational interviewing techniques to support nutrition work and behaviour change goals with your clients!

FREE RESOURCES:

• Pillars of Body Image Positivity
• The Biological Effects of Calorie Restriction
• How Under Eating Causes Overeating
• Eating Disorder Recovery Benchmarking
• Eating Disorder Reasons to Recover
• Meal Support Strategies for Eating Disorders
• ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder )101

NOTEWORTHY PREMIUM RESOURCES:

• Body Image Bundle
• Ultimate Eating Disorder Gentle Nutrition Bundle
• Incorporating Feared & Novel Foods
• Family Based Therapy (FBT) Informed Nutrition Care Bundle
• Snack Pack for Eating Disorder & Intuitive Eating RDs (Includes Non-Dairy, Nut Free & Gastroparesis)

View the full Eating Disorder Resources store!

Terms and Conditions

This document is to be used as a tool in nutrition counselling or nutrition groups. The content is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Users are encouraged to advise their clients to always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner for questions about their health or nutritional requirements. The author is not responsible for errors, omissions or individual usage. All materials are protected under copyright and are only intended for use by the sole individual or entity who purchased the resource.

License: You may not share, sell or distribute these files to others. Printed files are permitted for use with clients in individual or group sessions only. By purchasing and using this file, you agree to include copyright information on all pages. You may not remove copyright information.

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© 2023 Brittaney Berendsen RD. Brittaney Berendsen RD maintains all rights to the designs and files.