Do you feel like a chat? Need to talk to someone who knows what you are going through?

The Body Esteem Self Help Groups are a great place to spend some time with women who know what you are going through and will help you create a positive community around you to help you make the healthy changes you want.

But what about outside of the groups?

The Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria has a chat room that provides people living with an eating disorder with an opportunity to provide mutual support and encouragement in a safe environment.  

You will find the chat room at  the Foundation's website, www.eatingdisorders.org.au

Click here to go straight to the chat room.

Supporting someone else with an eating disorder.....

The Centre for Clinical Intervention

The Centre for Clinical Intervention offers therapeutic assistance to people with a range of mental health concerns including eating disorders. They offer some helpful advice to partners, parents and carers of people suffering from an eating disorder. 

'As a carer of a person with an eating disorder, you have an influence over the recovery process. We understand
that you want the best for your loved one and want to help them achieve positive changes...'

'Eating Disorders - Information for Carers', Centre for Clinical Intervention

To read more check out the Centre for Clinical Interventions website here.

The Australian Psychological Society 

The Australian Psychological Society recently published a fact sheet called 'Helping girls develop a positive self image', adapted from the American Psychological Association's tipsheet.

This fact sheet offers some suggestions that might help you to support someone you love through their struggles with an eating disorder.

 'As parents, you are powerful too. You can teach girls to value themselves for who they are, rather than how they look. If you also have boys, you can teach them to value girls as friends, sisters, and girlfriends, rather than as sexual objects. And you can advocate for change with manufacturers and media producers....'

To read more click on the link below :

 'Helping girls develop a positive self image', Australian Psychological Society

You might also like to see...

Evolution – A Film by Dove – Campaign for Real Beauty

Children Youth and Women’s Health Service – Teen Health Website Eating Disorders Information

Some reading that you might find interesting... 

'Disordered eating less common among teen girls who regularly eat family meals', JAMA and Archives Journals

'Body Image is a Stronger Predictor of Health Than Obesity',  Mailman School of Public Health Study,

'Ten Top Tips for a Better Body Image', Centrecare Western Australia