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Eating Disorders

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What treatment and support is available?

The help and support of friends, family and professionals can help you identify and resolve the underlying causes of your eating problems. Without this, breaking free from a negative relationship with food can be extremely difficult.

“Receiving help early on, from people who are experienced in treating eating problems, is very important. Ultimately, my psychologist, occupational therapist and dietician saved my life.”

Contact a medical professional

You can contact your family doctor if you’re worried you may have an eating problem. They will need to check that any symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, are not due to another underlying physical illness.

Although your family doctor may not have the experience to offer you in-depth support, they should be able to refer you to a medical professional, such as a therapist, and specialist services, such as individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and counselling among other specialist support services. They should also be able to refer you to a dietician, who can give you advice about getting the right nutrients and reaching a healthy weight.

Talking treatments

Working with a therapist can help you face – and cope with – the underlying issues which may be causing your eating problem.

Therapists use a range of different techniques. Some types of therapy may focus on the past and your life experiences. Others may focus on your relationships with your family and other important people in your life.

Group and family therapy may also be an option, and can be a great way to help your family understand your eating problems. It can allow you and your family to look at ways of supporting and being open with each other.

Common talking therapies for eating problems include:

  • Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
  • Interpersonal therapy, which helps you look at the connection between relationships in your life and how you feel
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), which can help you feel more aware of your emotions and accepting of yourself

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

The leading treatment for eating disorders is CBT. The “behaviour” component of CBT focuses on normalising eating patterns. This includes meal planning, nutritional education, and teaching one to eat small amounts of food more regularly. The “cognitive” element of the treatment is aimed at understanding the way one’s thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour and actions, and to make appropriate changes.

Many people have found that treatment with CBT helps to reduce the severity of symptoms of an eating disorder, especially if they work with a trained therapist, but also with a CBT computer programme which can be accessed through a general practitioner.

“Cognitive behaviour therapy really helped me to change the distorted thoughts flying around my head and move on from my eating disorder.”

Medication

You may also be offered medication. There is no medication specifically for eating disorders, but you may be offered antidepressants or other mental health medications to treat underlying causes of the problems.

If you have bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, you may be offered antidepressant medications. This is because patients with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders often show mood disturbances that may worsen their eating disorder. The most common antidepressant prescribed to people experiencing bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

If you have anorexia nervosa, you may be offered an antidepressant or a medication called olanzapine. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic medication that helps with the disturbed thinking, specifically about body shape and size, characteristic of patients with anorexia nervosa. Also, one significant side effect of olanzapine is weight gain, which is very desirable in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

If you are underweight or overweight, drugs may be absorbed more or less quickly into your bloodstream, which could affect the intended effects of the medication. Your doctor will decide whether to offer you medication, and you can decide whether you want to take it.

Admission to a clinic

You may need to go into hospital or to a clinic if your family doctor or a medical professional feel you are very unwell or underweight, if other kinds of treatment haven’t worked, or if your home environment is making it hard for you to stay well.

If you are an outpatient or day patient, you will go home most evenings and weekends. If you are an inpatient, you will stay in the hospital or clinic for most of your treatment. How long you are admitted for will depend on how much help you need to recover.

You will normally receive a range of support as an inpatient. The staff at the hospital or clinic could include:

  • Doctors
  • Dieticians
  • Psychotherapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Social workers
  • Family and relationship therapists
  • Specialist nurses

Treatment can include:

  • Talking therapies e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Working in groups with other people experiencing eating problems
  • Medication (see ‘Medication’)
  • Refeeding (see ‘What is ‘refeeding’?’)

Your weight and general health will normally be monitored. There may be guidance on buying, preparing and serving food, how to cope with stress and anxiety, how to be more assertive, and how to manage anger and how to communicate well.

What is ‘refeeding’?

Refeeding means being given food with the aim of increasing your weight up to a healthy level. You may be given specific foods because they have certain nutritional values or are particularly good at helping people gain weight.

How this works varies from one clinic to another. Some doctors may do this over a longer period of time, allowing you to gradually increase your weight, whereas others will want to help you back to a healthy weight as soon as possible.

Refeeding can be a distressing process, especially if you do not want to gain weight, and may be something you want to talk about with your doctor in more detail.

Could I be forced to go to a clinic?

If a group of medical professionals agree that you are at risk of harming yourself or anyone else then they could force you to go to hospital under the Cap. 136 Mental Health Ordinance. This is sometimes called being sectioned. This could happen if your eating problem is having a significant impact on your physical health, and medical staff are concerned that you won’t be able to recover without support.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Treatment and Support

What treatment and support is available?

The help and support of friends, family and professionals can help you identify and resolve the underlying causes of your eating problems. Without this, breaking free from a negative relationship with food can be extremely difficult.

"Receiving help early on, from people who are experienced in treating eating problems, is very important. Ultimately, my psychologist, occupational therapist and dietician saved my life."

Contact a medical professional

You can contact your family doctor if you’re worried you may have an eating problem. They will need to check that any symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, are not due to another underlying physical illness.

Although your family doctor may not have the experience to offer you in-depth support, they should be able to refer you to a medical professional, such as a therapist, and specialist services, such as individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and counselling among other specialist support services. They should also be able to refer you to a dietician, who can give you advice about getting the right nutrients and reaching a healthy weight.

Talking treatments

Working with a therapist can help you face – and cope with – the underlying issues which may be causing your eating problem.

Therapists use a range of different techniques. Some types of therapy may focus on the past and your life experiences. Others may focus on your relationships with your family and other important people in your life.

Group and family therapy may also be an option, and can be a great way to help your family understand your eating problems. It can allow you and your family to look at ways of supporting and being open with each other.

Common talking therapies for eating problems include:

  • Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
  • Interpersonal therapy, which helps you look at the connection between relationships in your life and how you feel
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), which can help you feel more aware of your emotions and accepting of yourself

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

The leading treatment for eating disorders is CBT. The “behaviour” component of CBT focuses on normalising eating patterns. This includes meal planning, nutritional education, and teaching one to eat small amounts of food more regularly. The “cognitive” element of the treatment is aimed at understanding the way one’s thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour and actions, and to make appropriate changes.

Many people have found that treatment with CBT helps to reduce the severity of symptoms of an eating disorder, especially if they work with a trained therapist, but also with a CBT computer programme which can be accessed through a general practitioner.

“Cognitive behaviour therapy really helped me to change the distorted thoughts flying around my head and move on from my eating disorder.”

Medication

You may also be offered medication. There is no medication specifically for eating disorders, but you may be offered antidepressants or other mental health medications to treat underlying causes of the problems.

If you have bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, you may be offered antidepressant medications. This is because patients with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders often show mood disturbances that may worsen their eating disorder. The most common antidepressant prescribed to people experiencing bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

If you have anorexia nervosa, you may be offered an antidepressant or a medication called olanzapine. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic medication that helps with the disturbed thinking, specifically about body shape and size, characteristic of patients with anorexia nervosa. Also, one significant side effect of olanzapine is weight gain, which is very desirable in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

If you are underweight or overweight, drugs may be absorbed more or less quickly into your bloodstream, which could affect the intended effects of the medication. Your doctor will decide whether to offer you medication, and you can decide whether you want to take it.

Admission to a clinic

You may need to go into hospital or to a clinic if your family doctor or a medical professional feel you are very unwell or underweight, if other kinds of treatment haven’t worked, or if your home environment is making it hard for you to stay well.

If you are an outpatient or day patient, you will go home most evenings and weekends. If you are an inpatient, you will stay in the hospital or clinic for most of your treatment. How long you are admitted for will depend on how much help you need to recover.

You will normally receive a range of support as an inpatient. The staff at the hospital or clinic could include:

  • Doctors
  • Dieticians
  • Psychotherapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Social workers
  • Family and relationship therapists
  • Specialist nurses

Treatment can include:

  • Talking therapies e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Working in groups with other people experiencing eating problems
  • Medication (see ‘Medication’)
  • Refeeding (see ‘What is ‘refeeding’?’)

Your weight and general health will normally be monitored. There may be guidance on buying, preparing and serving food, how to cope with stress and anxiety, how to be more assertive, and how to manage anger and how to communicate well.

What is ‘refeeding’?

Refeeding means being given food with the aim of increasing your weight up to a healthy level. You may be given specific foods because they have certain nutritional values or are particularly good at helping people gain weight.

How this works varies from one clinic to another. Some doctors may do this over a longer period of time, allowing you to gradually increase your weight, whereas others will want to help you back to a healthy weight as soon as possible.

Refeeding can be a distressing process, especially if you do not want to gain weight, and may be something you want to talk about with your doctor in more detail.

Could I be forced to go to a clinic?

If a group of medical professionals agree that you are at risk of harming yourself or anyone else then they could force you to go to hospital under the Cap. 136 Mental Health Ordinance. This is sometimes called being sectioned. This could happen if your eating problem is having a significant impact on your physical health, and medical staff are concerned that you won’t be able to recover without support.