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Eating Disorder Recovery: Common Misconceptions & Our Unique Approach

6 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

CONTENTS

We live in a world that pursues perfection. While that pushes us forward to achieve the impossible, it also packs on the pressure to live, look and feel a certain way. One of the ways this negatively impacts society is with unrealistic body standards. Rather than striving to be the healthiest we can be, we often aim for an aesthetic goal. These standards can change the way we see ourselves and manipulative our relationship with food – one of the foundational pillars to life.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there are 70 million people living with an eating disorder internationally. These issues affect every demographic, especially affluent individuals. When anyone steps into the spotlight, expectations to look a certain way come with it. It is important to know that eating disorders do not look like one thing, and neither does the recovery process. That’s why we consulted two of our experts, Dr Indhira Ghyssaert and Anna Middeldorf, to discuss where eating disorders come from, the common misconceptions, and The Balance’s unique treatment approach.

There are two types of eating disorders someone can have: biochemical and physical or psychological. A biochemical, or physical, eating disorder is one that arises out of a change from the body first. For example, an elderly person can develop an eating disorder as a result of getting older and losing their sense of appetite. Someone who suffers with long-term Covid-19 affects, who has lost their sense of taste can also develop an eating disorder. These changes in food patterns stem from the physical first. But the majority of eating disorders stem from psychological issues.

When identifying an eating disorder, it is important to look at both physical and psychological signs. The changes may include significant fluctuations in weight, disturbances in menstrual cycles, gastrointestinal complaints, and dental issues, among others. Psychologically, individuals may exhibit an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, excessive preoccupation with food, and severe restriction of calorie intake, even when underweight. Behavioural signs are equally telling; they can range from the avoidance of social situations involving food, frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws, wearing baggy clothes to hide body shape, to episodes of binge eating followed by purging.

Our expert nutrition counsellor, Anna Middeldorf, explains: “An eating disorder is a symptom of another issue. It doesn’t have to do with the food itself; but rather with depression and anxiety, belief symptoms, trauma, and body image.” In any treatment, it is vital that the practitioner helps the patient to understand this. Middeldorf goes on: “It is extremely important to first distinguish the eating disorder: it could be anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or even orthorexia which hasn’t even made it into the manuals yet.” An eating disorder is a complex mental health condition that shows itself in severe changes, often related to one’s thoughts and emotions.

Nutrition is a vital part of a person’s recovery treatment. Oftentimes, someone battling an eating disorder is deprived of essential nutrients. This deprivation can lead to various health issues. One of the first steps of treatment is to take a comprehensive look at the body. Dr Indhira Ghyssaert explains: “We compare eating disorders to an iceberg – the role of food is just the tip. But the family input, the genetic input, the society input, the social media input – this is the part of the iceberg that is underwater. The nutritional aspect is extensive, but underneath is the huge, complex pattern.”

Dr Ghyssaert starts her treatment process with a blood test, looking at the breakdown of the body from a medical standpoint first. Is there an infection, a disease, a parasite, any loss of bones? She looks at everything going on inside the body before moving forward with a plan. “We do not force anything. We go slow, we make incremental change to the patterns and seek to not overwhelm the patient. We want to slowly get them out of survival mode, and into a safe place.” It is crucial to restore the body to help it heal and regain strength, but the pace of this process must be slow and set by the practitioner. Once we have all the information we need, we begin to stabilise the body through a meal plan created by our nutritionists and executed by our personal chefs.

The most common misconception around eating disorders is that it will be obvious if someone is struggling through one. Eating disorders do not look like one thing. Our expert, Anna Middeldorf, explains: “People with eating disorders are not always overweight, or underweight. You cannot always tell. Many people have eating disorders and can hide them very well. Someone can be anorexic, but not have a low body weight. Someone can have binge-eating disorder, but not have a high body weight.” An eating disorder often comes about silently, and thrives in secrecy.

Another common myth is that it always has to do with food. Whats fractured rather, is the relationship to food. Middeldorf explains, “The food is only a vehicle for something else.” An eating disorder is a way for a mental struggle to show itself – it isn’t the sole issue itself. Therefore it is not just a matter of eating more, or eating less. But understanding the core, underlying issues that are causing the behaviour in the first place. Just as Dr Ghyssaert stated: “the world only sees the tip of the iceberg.”

Despite their prevalence across all demographics, eating disorders often remain misunderstood, particularly in affluent communities where the pressure to maintain a certain body image can exacerbate these conditions. As a society, we have been conditioned to see certain body types as beautiful. When someone enters the spotlight—as a public figure, celebrity, or leader—it comes with it a certain pressure from the public to maintain a culturally accepted image. People believe that when you acquire success, or wealth, your problems go away. But it’s quite the opposite – these intense lifestyles often heighten issues. Many celebrities, like Lady GaGa and Elton John, have spoken out about their struggles with eating disorders. They are just a few of many. If we hope to see change, we have to dispel the myths that allow these struggles to foster.

We believe in a philosophy of “don’t force.” We know that when we push, we get push back. When it comes to something as delicate as eating disorder recovery, the steps are small and guided. Our patients set the pace, and we walk alongside them. Our approach is multi-dimensional, incorporating expertise from across our Balance team. When you check in with us, you will have a doctor, psychotherapist, psychiatry, nutritionist, and personal chef to accompany your healing process. If you prefer to go through this process alongside others, we now offer the same support through our new COGNIFUL TherapeuticCommunity program, a communal healing experience where individuals get their own private suites within the same residence and experience joint sessions alongside other healing individuals.

The conversation around eating disorder recovery is a delicate one. It’s important to know that this is one of the ways a mental health issue shows its face. The issue isn’t with the food, but with the relationship to food. When finding treatment, it’s important to pair with a practitioner that looks at the whole person – not just the symptoms. At The Balance Healthcare Group, we strive to only illuminate the path forward, but also walk alongside our clients. If you or a loved one is navigating the challenges of an eating disorder, we invite you to explore how our unique approach can cater to your needs, and ensure your journey to recovery doesn’t compromise on comfort or care.

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Eating Disorder

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.

A UNIQUE METHOD TREATING Eating Disorder

a successful and proven concept focusing on underlying causes

ONE CLIENT AT A TIME

TAILORED LASTING APPROACH

BIOCHEMICAL RESTORATION

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY & HOLISTIC

TECHNOLOGY BASED TREATMENT

TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY

Eating Disorder TREATMENT LASTING APPROACH

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Define Treatment Goals

1 week

Assessments & Detox

1-4 week

Psychological & Holistic Therapy

4 week

Family Therapy

5-8 week

Aftercare

12+ week

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Eating Disorder Recovery: Common Misconceptions & Our Unique Approach