We know that treating an eating disorder can be complicated. But when you’re managing an eating disorder along with a co-occurring medical condition, that can add extra complexity.
It’s quite common for eating disorders to co-exist with other health issues but it's often unclear whether eating behaviours are to appropriately mitigate symptoms or are a disordered response to distress. In this episode, we talk to guests living with coexisting conditions. Host Sam Ikin also talks to experts who help their clients to manage both.
Psychologist Dr Angelique Ralph says it’s sometimes difficult to know if you adjusted the way you eat to treat a chronic health issue or if it is an eating disorder. “Is the health condition impacting the eating disorder, the eating disorder impacting the health condition, or are they both reinforcing each other?”
For Lizzie, the eating disorder came first but she was managing it until she was diagnosed with coeliac disease. “My eating disorder flared. And I realised I was using my diagnosis as a reason not to eat.”
Sienna has had a long history of diabetes coupled with an eating disorder to create a condition called diabulimia. “If you don't take your insulin, your body eats itself,” she says. “It attacks all of your organs. It eats your fat first, then everything that you put into your body is pretty much burned up.”
Dietitian Shannon McDonough works primarily with people diagnosed with diabetes. "Around 35% of those living with diabetes also experience disordered eating or are actually living with an eating disorder." she says, "It's quite staggering really."
Ange lives with endometriosis and has also experienced an eating disorder. “There was a mix of me self-medicating when I wasn't seeing a professional, and professionals actually giving me these diets,” she says. “I became addicted to this cycle of restriction.”
As we listen to each guest’s perspective, we also find out what model of treatment can help.

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