Eating-related problems

Many people struggle with their relationship to food, eating and body image at different points in their lives. Eating-related problems can include patterns or thoughts that feel unhelpful, stressful or difficult to manage — even if they don’t fit a specific diagnosis. These challenges can affect mood, energy, confidence and overall wellbeing.

Common signs of eating-related problems

You might recognise some of the following if you’re finding it hard to have a balanced relationship with food:

Feeling guilty or stressed about what or how much you eat
Switching between periods of strict control and overeating
Thinking about food, weight or body shape more than you’d like
Eating in response to emotions such as stress, boredom or sadness
Avoiding eating with others or feeling self-conscious around food
Feeling out of control around certain foods
Frequently comparing your body to others or feeling unhappy with your body
Using exercise mainly as a way to “burn off” food
Irregular eating patterns or skipping meals

These patterns can develop gradually and often feel manageable at first, but over time they may start affecting daily life.

How common are eating-related problems?

Eating-related concerns are very common — many people experience periods of stress or imbalance in their eating habits. Diet culture, social media, busy schedules and life transitions can all contribute.
Even if your struggles don’t feel “serious enough,” they can still impact your wellbeing, confidence and energy levels.

When do eating patterns become a problem?

Eating concerns become unhelpful when they begin to:

Affect your mood or self-esteem
Reduce your enjoyment of food or social situations
Take up a lot of mental space
Impact your physical energy, sleep or concentration
Create stress in daily routines

If you often feel preoccupied with food or your body, or you notice eating becoming a source of frustration or shame, support can help you regain balance.

How can talking to a therapist help?

Support starts with an open conversation about what you’re experiencing, what feels difficult and what you’d like to change. Therapy can help you:

Understand the underlying patterns that drive eating difficulties
Build more flexible, balanced eating habits
Reduce guilt and pressure around food
Strengthen emotional coping skills — so food isn’t the main strategy
Improve body image and self-acceptance
Create routines that support energy, enjoyment and wellbeing
Work with perfectionism, stress or low mood if these contribute