Disordered eating and eating disorders introduced

This introductory workshop offers a grounded starting point for practitioners who feel uncertain about meeting eating-related concerns in their work.

It distinguishes between disordered eating and eating disorders, considers weight and obesity in context, and introduces a range of presentations that may be encountered in practice. The emphasis is on becoming more familiar with the territory while responding with care, without assumption, stigma or unnecessary anxiety.

We will explore:

• Distinctions between disordered eating, eating disorders and other eating or feeding concerns;
• The main diagnostic categories and presentations practitioners may encounter, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, ARFID and OSFED;
• Other concerns sometimes brought to practice, including orthorexia, rumination disorder, pica, emetophobia-related presentations and issues associated with type 1 diabetes;
• How diagnostic frameworks can inform understanding without replacing careful clinical judgement;
• Weight and obesity in context, including weight stigma;
• Appropriate scope of practice, protection and safety awareness, and the value of specialist support where needed.