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BMI is not a measure of brain recovery. Anorexia nervosa is one of the only psychiatric illnesses in which discharge decisions are often tied to a number on a scale. Once a minimum BMI is reached, stabilised bloods, and a restored heart rate are achieved, treatment intensity is frequently reduced. But if anorexia is a disorder of the brain, why are we measuring recovery primarily by body weight? Weight restoration is essential. Without it, there is no recovery. But stopping a

There is growing attention on the psychological and neurocognitive effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Much of the discussion asks whether these medications themselves cause mental health harm. That question, however, starts in the wrong place. The more useful question is not whether GLP-1s are “good” or “bad”, but whether we are adequately accounting for what happens to the human brain when energy availability falls below physiological need, regardless of how that reduction

Gastrointestinal symptoms in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) are increasingly recognised as more than coincidental. While joint hypermobility is often the most visible feature, research now shows the gastrointestinal tract can be significantly affected, sometimes to the point where oral intake is no longer sufficient to maintain nutrition. For some individuals, gut dysmotility leads to progressive weight loss, dehydration, and micronutrient deficiencies. Yet in hosp

A research-informed question about NGT, brain healing, and recovery in eating disorders Nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding in eating disorders is most often framed as a last resort, a short-term medical intervention used to restore weight until oral intake resumes and the tube can be removed. Alongside this framing sits a persistent concern: that people may become “dependent” on tube feeding, or that it undermines motivation to eat and engage in recovery. This concern is understa

If you’re a dad supporting a teenager with an eating disorder, food can quickly become the main battleground in the house. You might notice yourself repeating reminders, explaining why eating matters, or getting frustrated when meals drag on or don’t happen at all. It’s understandable. You’re worried. You want your child to get better. And you can see the practical problems coming if eating doesn’t improve. What often gets missed is how the brain responds to pressure , especi

A newly published paper has been sitting with me this week, and the timing feels important. The study examines micronutrient and nutritional deficiencies associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists , and while it is careful and measured in its conclusions, the implications are worth pausing over. In simple terms, the paper outlines something clinicians would expect but the public conversation has largely skipped over: when appetite is reduced, food intake often drops in ways that

Understand the “starved brain” and why nutrition must come first in eating disorder recovery. Practical parent insights + $1 per book to EDCS.

When You Want to Give Up, Keep Going If you are supporting someone with an eating disorder, there will be moments when you desperately want to stop. Stop pushing. Stop insisting.Stop being the “bad guy.”Stop holding boundaries that feel like they’re breaking the relationship. Those moments do not mean you are doing something wrong. They mean you are doing something hard . Structure is not cruelty, it is care In eating disorder recovery, structure and boundaries are not punis

Food Mad: Nutritional Neuroscience for Eating Disorder Recovery

Bloating. Constipation. Abdominal pain. Early fullness. IBS-type symptoms. These are often blamed on “food intolerances,” stress, or a “sensitive gut.”But one of the most common — and overlooked — causes is chronic underfueling . Digestion is not a passive process. It is energy-dependent , neurologically regulated, and deeply connected to both hormonal and microbial health. When energy intake is too low, the gut is one of the first systems to be down-regulated. This article e

The Math ain't Math'in Fourteen hundred calories is often presented as “reasonable,” “safe,” or even “generous.” Physiologically, it isn’t. Not for an adult body.Not for an active lifestyle.And not for a brain, gut, and hormonal system expected to function well. If you experience brain fog, irritability, constant hunger, bloating, constipation, poor sleep, feeling cold, or emotional flatness, this is rarely a motivation issue. It is far more often an energy availability issue

Dieting isn’t a personal failure — it’s a system that doesn’t work. A dietitian explains why choosing not to diet can support real health and recovery.

A Body Is Not a Problem to Solve | Body Trust, Brain Health & Self-Improvement

Learn how food builds and fuels your brain. Simple, science-based nutrition tips for mood, focus, memory, energy and long-term brain health.

Learn how the hippocampus is affected by anorexia and why BDNF—your brain’s growth signal—may support brain recovery beyond weight gain alone.

This story is a composite, drawn from the experiences of many people I’ve worked with over the years. It isn’t about being the “sickest,” recovering the fastest, or doing things perfectly. It’s about what recovery often looks like when people are supported and nourished over time. People often tell me they’re afraid to read recovery stories. They worry they’ll see someone who was “worse than them,” or someone who recovered quickly, effortlessly, and now eats croissants in Par

Practical phrases that help—and comments to avoid—when supporting someone with an eating disorder. Guidance for parents, partners, and friends.

What a 2024 study shows — and what it doesn’t The study in brief Paper:   Cognitive Functions in Adolescent Girls with Anorexia Nervosa during Nutritional Rehabilitation Journal:   Nutrients  (2024) Participants:  36 hospitalised adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, compared with 48 healthy peers Design:  Cognitive testing during acute malnutrition and again after partial nutritional rehabilitation The study explored whether severe malnutrition in anorexia nervosa impairs

Starting eating disorder or disordered eating support can feel daunting — especially if you’ve had unhelpful, rushed, or invalidating experiences in the past

Regular eating is one of the most effective ways to restore brain nutrition in eating disorder recovery. The brain has the highest energy demand of any organ and requires a consistent supply of glucose, amino acids, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals to function