Eating Disorders

Claire is recognised by the Australian and New Zealand Eating Disorder Association as a specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian

Claire Ward has completed additional training in working with people with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, orthorexia. She completed a course with the Australian Centre for Eating Disorders and works closely with psychologist to help children, adolescents and adults who have an eating disorder. She is also an approved practitioner for the Butterfly foundation in helping people with disordered eating patterns.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviours surrounding weight and food issues. They are serious eating disorders and can be life-threatening. A person with a eating disorder has not made a ‘lifestyle choice’, they are actually very unwell and need help.

For some people, restricting their food and weight can be a way of controlling areas of life that feel out of their control and their body image can come to define their entire sense of self-worth. A person who restricts their intake may only make cravings worse as their body craves for nutrition, which can encourage the binging and purging cycle also.

Eating disorders can also be a way of expressing emotions that may feel too complex or frightening such as pain, stress or anxiety. Restrictive dieting and excessive exercise can be contributing factors to the onset of an eating disorder like Anorexia.

If you are concerned about a friend, child or other family members, ensure you book an appointment with an Accredited Practising Dietitian and a psychologist who understands and had experience in this area. As an Orange dietitian, Claire are ideally situated to help those in Central West NSW ( Orange and Dubbo) or telehealth consults are available. If you see your General Practitioner first, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate which will enable you to access a rebate for up to 20 sessions per year to see the dietitian.