A disordered eating behavior is expressed through an unbalanced relationship with food. Those affected generally want to regain a healthy and natural relationship with food, governed by pleasure and the needs of the moment. However, what they often experience is the opposite. Constant rumination about when/what/how much to eat, sometimes mixed with difficult emotions and/or a critical attitude toward oneself. The act of eating can become a source of more or less significant suffering and may, as a result, lead to a change in eating behavior. It can become more restrictive ("I no longer eat carbs"; "When I eat something sweet, I feel like I'm punishing myself") or, on the contrary, you pay less and less attention to what you eat ("Anyway, it's already ruined, this piece of pie won't change anything"; "I'm too tired to prepare something to eat"), or you may swing between periods of restriction and letting go. Often, weight fluctuations are a consequence, and a vicious cycle sets in.

Eating disorders are mental disorders described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This is a reference work published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Included are, for example, anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (BED).

People suffering from an eating disorder, ideally diagnosed by a doctor or mental health professional according to the DSM criteria, primarily need (but not exclusively) psychotherapeutic and/or psychiatric care. The ideal treatment would be multidisciplinary, involving a psychotherapist, a general practitioner (at first), and a dietitian.

As a dietitian, I work with people suffering from eating disorders on the condition that they are either undergoing or are willing to undergo psychotherapy sessions.

Dietetic care aims to restore a regular eating rhythm, meaning regular, balanced meals adapted to the patient’s health status. For this, alongside dietary and nutritional advice, analyzing thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations (hunger/satiety) in relation to food and eating behavior is often helpful. The approach is highly individual and depends on health status and personal progress. In addition to my expertise in dietetics, I place great importance on kindness and compassion toward others. I rely on the principles of mindful eating to help and guide patients toward achieving their goals.