Ottawa Disordered Eating

At The Balanced Practice, we are committed to eradicating eating disorders and proving the power of healing.

Disordered eating is a complex issue that impacts millions of folks worldwide. It stems from an unhealthy relationship with food (and oftentimes poor body image) that leads folks to engage in disordered thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding eating.

Disordered eating has become a common issue in the last 30 years as our culture has placed an emphasis on body aesthetics and diets. This social obsession with thinness and wellness has led many to embark on different diets, plans and programs that unfortunately often lead to disordered eating, poor body image and worsen mental & physical health.

Disordered eating can be tricky to identify because: 1) it has been normalized by diet culture 2) there is a wide variety of disordered eating behaviors and individual experiences with disordered eating will vary. Here are some signs you may have disordered eating :

• You think about food constantly
• You feel guilt or shame when eating food that you deem “unhealthy”
• You actively try to restrict your food intake
• You have cut out an entire food group (ex: carbohydrates)
• You are a chronic dieter
• You experience anxiety around food
• You have rigid rules around food and exercise
• Your food and body preoccupation are negatively impacting your life
• You feel out of control around food
• You use exercise as a means to earn, control, or compensate for food.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list.

Disordered eating can have serious consequences on both physical and mental health. Individuals struggling with disordered eating often experience:

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Emotional distress
• Physical health risks
• Social isolation
• Reduced quality of life

Short answer: Yes! If your relationship with food and your body is impacting your quality of life, you deserve help.

At The Balanced Practice, we believe that when you heal your relationship with food and your body, the way you experience life changes drastically.

You HAVE to eat food every day, for the rest of your life. And, you HAVE to live in your body every day, for the rest of your life. So, let’s be sure that those 2 relationships are empowering you to live your best, most fulfilling life!

Recovery from disordered eating is possible with the right treatment and support. Your experience with disordered eating is unique, and your treatment needs to reflect your uniqueness. There is no one-size-fits-all to recovery!

At The Balanced Practice, we use a Food Body Mind Approach to support you in making sustainable changes. We offer a range of evidence-based treatment interventions that include nutrition counseling, psychotherapy, and group support. Disordered eating can be a challenging and isolating experience, but recovery does not have to be that way. We’ve got you.

The Balanced Program may be the best fit for you, check out the program here.