Nutrition & Wellness Blog: Expert Tips from a Dietitian

Navigating healthy and unhealthy food choices while learning to restore a positive relationship with food. Q1. What is an eating disorder? An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition that affects how a person eats, thinks about food, and perceives their body. It can cause severe emotional distress and physical health problems. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Highly processed foods activate the brain’s reward system, making cravings stronger and harder to manage. Q1. What is food addiction? Some people eat certain foods especially highly processed, high-calorie foods in a way that looks similar to addiction. Research shows cravings, loss of control, and continuing to eat despite harm match criteria used in the DSM-5 for substance use disorders (1). Without recognising these signs, people may continue overeating and develop long-te

Internalised weight stigma not body size is a powerful, often invisible force harming mental and physical health across all body types In today’s society, the pressure to achieve the “perfect” body is everywhere from social media feeds to advertising to healthcare messages. But what if the real threat to your health isn’t your weight at all? Increasing evidence shows that internalised weight stigma the shame and self-criticism we adopt from society can quietly erode both ment

Understanding Dopamine: How it Connects Fear, Anxiety, and Disordered Eating. Q1. What does dopamine do in the brain? Dopamine is best known for making us feel pleasure and motivation, but it also plays a big role in how we respond to fear and anxiety (1). It helps the brain learn what’s safe and what’s dangerous, shaping how we react to threats. This means dopamine isn’t just about feeling good it helps regulate emotions, fear responses, and decision-making. Problems with do

Understanding the relationship between trauma and eating disorders is essential, as these conditions frequently overlap and influence one another in powerful ways. Trauma whether from early adverse experiences, acute events, or chronic stress can profoundly shape how individuals regulate emotions, cope with distress, and relate to their bodies. For many, disordered eating becomes a way to manage overwhelming feelings linked to traumatic memories, while the physical and psycho