Kicking off today’s webinar is @HarrietParsons from @bodywhys to talk about how frontline workers can support people with eating disorders

Eating disorders have a high mortality rate

EDs are intimate and can be difficult to first engage on the topic

EDs can go hand in hand with addiction, often we treat addiction but the ED can flare unknown to support services

Actions can change-eating, binging, exercise etc

Thinking can change-how they rationalise decisions

All this takes a physical impact on the body, not just weight

Impacts how we feel and our sense of self

Remember we are on the outside looking in, theres more than what we see

If there is one takeaway from today’s webinar it’s this:

Partner and collaborate with them to help and support, not to dictate and mandate their behaviour.

As destructive as an ED can be on a person, it becomes functional for them. It serves a purpose.

Therefore it’s harder to make change

Getting better can make people feel worse, so motivational interviewing is key

When does a habit or behaviour becomes an eating disorder.

We all have normal eating disorders, but the level of compulsion determines whether it is an eating disorder

Myth-busting Eating Disorders.

Harriet has supported people as young as 8 and as old as 70s.

It’s not a teenage girl issue.

It can often be tied to other trauma or problems the people is dealing with

What do we mean when we talk about EDs:

Some common features we can be more aware of:

Homelessness can be so chaotic and have no control over their lives.

An ED can be a way of coping, where the rules they set up are to be followed and give a structure and routine that allows them a sense of control.

Remember language is subjective so check in how the words people use and what they mean to them.

Don’t assume you know. Check in. And remember to partner and offer support to help.

Remember to separate the person from the ED.

Separating ED into an ‘it’.

This helps to: