Skip to the content
  • About Us
  • Seeking Help For Myself
  • Seeking Help For Another
  • Our Programs
  • Conditions We Treat
  • Addictions
  • Mental Health
  • Workshops
  • Self-Assessments
  • Alumni + Recovery Talk
  • Contact Us
South Pacific Private
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Alumni + Recovery Talk
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Call 1800 063 332
  • Our History
  • Mission, Values & Inclusivity
  • Why South Pacific Private?
  • Take the Tour
  • Meet the Team
  • Safety & Quality
  • Press Clippings

Disordered Eating

The term ‘disordered eating’ covers a vast range of behaviours which can include over-eating, under-eating – annorexia binge eating and purging - bulimia, craving food or lacking control around food and an obsession with healthy eating, known as orthorexia.

This photo is for demonstration purposes only.

Page down arrow
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Disordered Eating
  • Sex Addiction
  • Gambling Addiction
  • Work Addiction
  • Gaming, Social Media and Device Addiction
  • Love and Avoidance Addiction
  • Dual Diagnosis

Understanding disordered eating

For many, disordered eating can be akin to an addiction, such as an addiction to sugar processed carbs or white flour. Recovery can be especially challenging because, unlike alcohol or drug use, abstinence from food or mealtimes is not possible.

Multiple times a day, those of us with eating disorders and food addiction are confronted with what can feel like regular temptation or torture.

At South Pacific Private, we understand that disordered eating is often not about food at all.

People suffering from food addiction or disordered eating are often using food to cope with uncomfortable and painful feelings stemming from low self-worth, childhood trauma, unhealthy relationship dynamics, or are attempting to control the only thing they feel they can control – the food they put in their body.

It is not uncommon for people seeking treatment for other addictions to realise that their substance use, process addiction and/or mental health is very much intertwined with their relationship to food and their body image. This can be a huge trigger for people to relapse into problematic behaviours and requires a holistic approach to treatment.

That's why at South Pacific Private, we go beyond just treating the symptoms of disordered eating and seek to identify and resolve the underlying causes.

We also offer a dedicated Mindful Eating Program as an element of our general program. This is designed to deliver practical skills and guidance, including nutrition and mindfulness workshops, to equip clients with the tools and strategies, supporting the development of a healthy relationship with food.

Indicators Of Disordered Eating

 

Signs of disordered eating include:

  • An obsessive focus on dieting, calorie counting, fasting, skipping meals, avoiding food groups or having patterns when eating, such as cutting food into small pieces or hiding food.
  • Believing that if you can just reach your goal weight you will find happiness.
  • Distorted body image and sense of self.
  • Purging your system through vomiting, excessive liquid consumption or using laxatives to rid the body of food (and taking trips to the bathroom to do so after meals).
  • Excessive exercise and a refusal to interrupt exercise, or distress if exercise is restricted.
  • Withdrawing from social events and situations which involve meals, preferring to eat alone or excusing skipping meals in social settings, including meals you may have cooked yourself.
  • Binge eating, including hoarding food, excessive consumption in one sitting - Constant weight fluctuations, purchasing baggy clothes to hide weight loss or weight gains.
  • Constant concern or complaints about being fat, speaking often of diets and weight loss, frequent use of scales and mirrors to check for gains, losses and flaws.

If you’re concerned you may have a problem with disordered eating, you can use our self-assessment tool here to gain a better understanding of whether key indicators of a dysfunctional relationship with eating apply to your situation. To schedule a free, confidential, professional phone assessment, call our team seven days a week on 1800 063 332.

Your Journey To Recovery

At South Pacific Private our multi-disciplinary team of caseworkers, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and specialist nursing staff provide wraparound care, treatment and support. It’s an approach which clients experience as both affirming and transformative, and is designed to set them up for successful, long-term recovery. We provide a calm, safe and secure environment with 24/7 professional support.

If you believe you may be suffering from disordered eating and are ready to take the first step toward recovery, call us now on 1800 063 332 or contact us here to see if our programs are right for you.

man with afro looking into the distance

*A note on anorexia and bulimia.

For some who are experiencing disordered eating, a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder such as binge eating disorder, anorexia or bulimia nervosa may be applicable. We recognise that clients with these diagnoses, who are actively purging, or have a Body Mass Index of less than 18, require specialist medical care and 24-hour supervision. Because the South Pacific Private operates as a therapeutic recovery community, we recommend individuals first gain stability with their disordered eating through a specially targeted program or through working with a specialist.

Anorexia and bulimia carry very serious health concerns. If you feel your symptoms are severe, you are actively purging or have a Body Mass Index of less than 18, please seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Contact Us
blonde woman smiling

WE HEAL FAMILIES

Why Choose South
Pacific Private?

With decades of experience, South Pacific Private is Australia’s leading treatment centre for addiction, trauma, depression and anxiety. Our uniquely comprehensive programs change lives, repair relationships and heal families by identifying and addressing the underlying causes laying the groundwork for sustained, long-term recovery.

Read more

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

Curious?
Take a Self-
Assessment

  • Please Select
    • Alcohol Addiction
    • Anxiety
    • Codependency
    • Depression
    • Disordered Eating
    • Drug and Substance Addiction
    • Gambling Addiction
    • Gaming, Social Media and Device Addiction
    • Love Addiction
    • Love Avoidance
    • Prescription Drug Addiction
    • Sex Addiction
    • Trauma
    • Work Addiction

The goal of our self-tests is not to provide you with a diagnosis for yourself or for someone you care about. Instead, they are an opportunity for you to better understand how a behaviour might be impacting upon your life or the life of your family. Use these tests to enhance your awareness of what the problem might be.

These tests should be answered honestly in order to provide accurate insight and are a chance for you to reflect upon the current situation.

WANT TO READ ON?

Navigate To
Other Addiction Pages

Alcohol Addiction

At South Pacific Private, we know how difficult it is to take the first step and admit that alcohol has become a problem in your life. The idea of living without alcohol can feel daunting, overwhelming or even impossible.

Click here to read more >

Drug and Substance Addiction

At South Pacific Private, we recognise drug addiction as a particularly devastating and all-consuming disease which can destroy lives, fracture families and risk serious health impacts, including overdose.

Click here to read more >

Addiction to Prescription Medication

Addiction to prescription medication is a serious and rapidly growing problem in Australia and can lead to financial, relational and physical and emotional issues.

Click here to read more >

Sex Addiction

Sex addiction – sometimes described as hypersexuality, porn addiction or sexual compulsive disorder – is a very common, very real and rarely discussed disorder which can have a devastating impact on individuals, relationships and families.

Click here to read more >

Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, can be a dangerous, destructive and overwhelming disorder, with mounting debts and relationship conflicts often leading to severe stress and isolation.

Click here to read more >

Gaming, Social Media and Device Addiction

The rise of technology has resulted in new and detrimental addictive behaviours, variously called internet addiction, screen addiction, device addiction, social media addiction, video gaming addiction or gaming disorder.

Click here to read more >

Love/Avoidance Addiction

Love Addiction and Love Avoidance describe two dysfunctional relationship patterns that some of us repeatedly find ourselves falling into, often leading to significant emotional pain, distress and unhealthy intimate relationships.

Click here to read more >

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe a person who is experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety alongside alcohol and drug addiction.

Click here to read more >

Work Addiction

Work addiction, also known as workaholism or burnout, is a relatively new issue in the field of psychological research, but we know it can have significant impacts on individuals’ families, emotional and physical health.

Click here to read more >

Stories of Recovery

Read More

All photographs are for demonstration purposes only

blue water

Let’s stay in touch,
sign up for our newsletter

Sign Up Here

South Pacific Private recognises the Gayamaygal people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land upon which we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

South Pacific Private is working towards Rainbow Tick Accreditation.

Quicklinks

Contact Us
P: 1800 063 332
F: 02 9466 6470
Email Us

  • About Us
  • Our Programs
  • Conditions We Treat
  • FAQs
  • Self-Assessments
  • Seeking Help For Myself
  • Seeking Help For Another
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Media Enquiries
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • Student Placements
  • Events
SPP Icon
SPP Icon

Connect With us

QIP Rainbow Tick Accredited
South Pacific Logo
Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy

© South Pacific Private

24 Beach St,

Curl Curl NSW 2096

ABN 84 003 340 912

CP

Contact Us

If you would like more information for yourself or for a loved one, our client care team is available to take your call 7 days a week.

Call 1800 063 332

Other Contact Options

Send an Email

Media Enquiries

Sign up to our newsletter

Our Address

A. 24 Beach Street
Curl Curl NSW 2096
P. 1800 063 332
F. 02 9466 6470
E. [email protected]

Connect with us logo