Eating Disorder Information and Support

The following organisations provide eating disorder information; some also provide services such as support groups and peer mentoring for people experiencing eating disorders and carers.

In Australia and New Zealand, it is often best to start by seeing a General Practitioner (GP). GPs are able to diagnose eating disorders, monitor for physical complications, offer ongoing support and help to connect you with specialised eating disorder services. If you have a GP who you know and are comfortable with, you might want to see them, or you might want to find a GP who has a specific interest in eating disorders (for example, some of the resources below include GPs with an interest in eating disorders). If the first person who you see dismisses your concerns, see someone else.

In Australia and New Zealand, there are both public (free of charge for most people) and private options available for eating disorder treatment. A GP can help you decide what option is best for you.

Australia

 

New Zealand

These resources are not specifically Christian, but they are well-regarded and based on evidence and/or extensive clinical experience. Note that self-help resources are intended to complement, not replace, professional care.

  • 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder (Carolyn Costin & Gwen Schubert Grabb)
    This is a self-help book, written by an eating disorder therapist who has recovered from an eating disorder, and one of her former clients who has also recovered. It is not a Christian resource, however ‘Key 8 – Finding meaning and purpose’, acknowledges the importance of spirituality in eating disorder recovery. Christians may want to consider how the approach in this chapter resembles, and how it differs from, their own worldview. Christians may also find other parts of the book helpful.

  • Renourish: A Complete and Compassionate Guide to Recovery from Eating Disorders (Warren Ward & Lexi Crouch)
    This is a self-help resource written by an experienced eating disorder psychiatrist and an eating disorder coach/clinical nutritionist/yoga teacher who has herself recovered from an eating disorder. This is not a Christian resource but it does include a section on ‘Renourishing your Soul’ alongside sections addressing care for the body and the brain.

  • Overcoming Binge Eating (Christopher Fairburn)
    This is a self-help resource based on a well-evidenced treatment for eating disorders (CBT-E).

  • Centre for Clinical Interventions Disordered Eating Resources
    This website provides freely available information and worksheets for people struggling with disordered eating, based on one of the best-evidenced approaches to eating disorder treatment (cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED)).

These resources are not specifically Christian, but they are well-regarded and based on evidence and/or extensive experience.

  • Eating Disorders Families Australia 
    This organisation was started by a group of Australian parents who were caring for a child with an eating disorder. It offers information and support for families and carers of people experiencing eating disorders.