RECOGNISING EATING DISORDERS IN CLIENTS
AND HOW YOU CAN HELP
The prospect of talking to clients about eating disorders may be daunting , but recognising the signs and knowing how to broach the subject could be life changing .
WORDS : LOREN BYFORD
A s a fitness professional , you ’ re in a good position to notice
if someone is developing an unhealthy relationship with their body , exercise , or food . You might find yourself dealing with clients or colleagues with an eating disorder , and be unsure of what to do .
Understanding the early warning signs of an eating disorder will help . Once you know what to look for , you will have a better idea whether you should talk to someone about your concerns . You aren ’ t expected to have all the answers : if you ’ re worried about someone , you can help them get the support they need by connecting them with the right services as early as possible .
Eating disorders , compulsive exercise and negative body image frequently co-occur , so it ’ s helpful to know what to look for in each of these situations .
What are eating disorders ?
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that occur when eating , exercise and body weight or shape become an unhealthy preoccupation of someone ’ s life . They affect approximately 9 per cent of the Australian population , with only one in six sufferers getting treatment . It ’ s important to understand that an eating disorder is not a lifestyle choice , a diet gone wrong or a cry for attention . There are four main eating disorders :
• anorexia nervosa
• bulimia nervosa
• binge eating disorder
• other specified feeding and eating disorders .
What classifies as compulsive exercise ?
Everyone is different , and what might be a healthy amount of exercise for one person will be an unhealthy amount for someone else . If someone is exercising despite illness or injury , or experiencing anxiety and distress over missed workouts , they may be displaying signs of an unhealthy relationship with exercise . Compulsive exercise is not an eating disorder , however people who are compulsively exercising often experience a range of eating disorder-related symptoms , like unhealthy eating patterns , social withdrawal and body image concerns . Sometimes people engaging in compulsive exercise have poor body image , so language and behaviour suggestive of such a perception is also something to look out for .
NETWORK WINTER 2016 | 19