What Keeps Anorexia Going?
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Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
It is common for people to feel conscious of their eating, but extreme dieting and weight loss can lead to an eating disorder called anorexia (or anorexia nervosa), which may impact their physical and mental health. Symptoms of anorexia include:
- Eating less and less.
- Losing weight.
- Having strict rules about eating (e.g., what you are allowed to eat, when, and where).
- Thinking often about your weight and body shape.
- Feeling fat when others think you are too thin.
- Sometimes losing control over your food intake (binge-eating).
- Feeling low, irritable, and not wanting to be around others.
- Trying to prevent weight gain in other ways (e.g., vomiting or taking laxatives).
- Exercising excessively or compulsively.
Research has demonstrated that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a helpful psychological therapy for anorexia. CBT therapists work a bit like firefighters: while the fire is burning they’re not so interested in what caused
Therapist Guidance
“One interesting way of thinking about anorexia is to look at why, for some people, it does not get better by itself. This handout shows some of the most common reasons why some people keep experiencing symptoms of anorexia. I wonder if we could look at it together and think about whether it describes some of what is happening for you?”
References And Further Reading
- Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press.
- Fairburn, C. G., Cooper, Z., & Shafran, R. (2003). Cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders: A “transdiagnostic” theory and treatment. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41, 509-528.
- Galsworthy-Francis, L., & Allan, S. (2014). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anorexia nervosa: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 34, 54-72.
- Keski-Rahkonen, A., & Mustelin, L. (2016). Epidemiology of eating disorders in Europe: prevalence, incidence, comorbidity, course, consequences, and risk factors. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 29, 340-345.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE: 2017). Eating disorders: Recognitions and treatment. Retrieved from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng69.
- Waller, G., Cordery, H., Corstorphine, E., Hinrichsen, H., Lawson, R., Mountford, V., & Russell, K. (2007). Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders: A comprehensive treatment guide. Cambridge University Press.