Am I “sick enough” for help?
Have you ever thought “Am I sick enough to need help?” or worse.. been told that you aren’t?
But your struggling..
The constant food guilt and thinking about it 24/7,
Fear of gaining weight and worried about how your body looks,
Punishing your body through exercise or other behaviours,
& anxiety around social eating
Your not alone and sadly, eating disorders and disordered exist alongside weight-stigma and also a diagnostic criteria that doesn’t always reflect the lived experience.
This can leave folks feeling like they don’t qualify for care or that they aren’t “sick enough”.
But I want to share with you why you deserve support now and how the system fails to support eating disorders.
The “Not Sick Enough” Myth
This idea is rooted in weight-stigma and diet culture ‘norms’:
For sooo long now, stereotypes of eating disorders have painted one picture of what they “look like” but the reality is:
LESS than 6% of diagnosed eating disorders are clinically underweight.
Eating disorders do not have a look - any body, shape, size, culture, ethnicity, gender can experience eating disorders. They do not discriminate.
Being underweight does not mean the risk of medical instability of an eating disorder is greater. This can happen at any weight.
Weight stigma and fat-phobia keep this myth alive. Folks in bigger bodies are often deemed “unhealthy” and are often told that pursing weight loss is a “positive”, without their story even being heard. This is weight discrimination.
And when diet culture celebrates the pursuit of weight loss as “normal” it reinforces the harmful beliefs that keep people from getting help.
The pursuit of weight loss or the need to alter your body to fit un-relenting beauty and body standards is seen as “normal”. Media everywhere selling us the idea that being smaller will = ultimate happiness.
If your concerns have ever been dismissed because of your body size or appearance, I’m sorry. That should never have happened.
Why you deserve support now
Here’s what I want you to offer:
Struggles with food exist in any and every body, shape and size. The severity of your concerns are the same in any body.
Emotional distress and constant food preoccupation are exhausting. It is so hard. You are carrying so much.
It doesn’t have to get worse for you before it gets better. If this is impacting your life, it is important.
Eating disorders are not a choice. They are complex, multifactorial, and never your fault.
Can we shift the “Not Sick Enough” Belief?
Your experience is valid. If you have been dismissed or told your “fine”. I am sorry. This is not ok. And I am so glad you are here reading this.
To know if getting support is right for you, maybe we could ask ourselves (in a gentle and compassionate way):
“Is this struggle affecting my life?”
“Am I tired of food and body image taking up so much space in my brain?”
“Is my body telling me that this isn’t helpful for me?”
What are some of the signs that my body is struggling?
Thinking about food constantly
Anxiety with social eating or others cooking for you
Feeling tired, lethargic and no energy for life
Increased hair loss or thinning
Brittle nails or changes in skin
Irregular or no period
Increased or frequent injuries from exercise
Digestive struggles (constipated, bloating, gas or diarrhoea)
Heightened anxiety or low mood, loss of joy in things you like
Feeling like you are the problem
What Healing Looks Like (Even if you don’t feel ‘Sick Enough’)
You deserve care at ANY stage.
With non-diet, trauma-informed care, you can:
Gently untangle food rules and guilt with eating
Explore what your body needs and how to find freedom with food
Build tools for managing urges to restrict, binge, or compensate
Create a safe space to talk about body image, without judgment
Learn that your worth has nothing to do with weight or food choices
Every step is led by your readiness, your pace, and your consent. This support is about meeting you where you are at and not waiting until you fit a medical tick box.
👉Read more about what you can expect from a session with a non-diet dietitian
Next Steps – You Deserve Compassionate Support
You don’t need to wait until things get “bad enough” to reach out.
If you’re navigating food struggles, shame, or the restrict–binge cycle, compassionate, trauma-informed support is available.
👉Book a session with a non-diet dietitian
👉Learn more about healing your relationship with food
👉Start your food freedom journey today
You are already enough, just as you are. And you deserve care that sees you, hears you, and supports you.
Courtney xx
