Eating Disorder Recovery: Set Point Theory
One of the hardest challenges when starting eating disorder recovery is accepting the fact that your body will change and learning to be ok with these changes. Many clients have used their eating disorders as a way to numb or suppress emotions and as food intake increases and an individual starts to gain weight, these suppressed emotions can start to surface and be difficult to process. That is why it is always important to see work with a psychotherapist and a nutritionist who specialises in eating disorder recovery at the same time.
Often clients with eating disorders present with extreme black and white thinking, whereby they are either as they are now or, if they eat they will balloon - which is not true. We explore the grey area a lot in eating disorder recovery and, most importantly, work at a pace that is manageable for an individual. One thing that I like to explore, with regards to body shape and size, is the Set Point Theory.
In the same way that we all have different eye colour, hair colour, skin colour, at its core, Set Point Theory suggests that our bodies strive to maintain a stable weight range that is predetermined by our unique genetic make-up. When our weight sits within this range, we (as a body) are able to function optimally and achieve “health”. This theory challenges the notion that weight is solely controlled by willpower and underscores the importance of individualism and for individuals recovering from eating disorders, learning to embrace this belief can be a transformative step.
My strong belief is that if you are skipping meals, cutting out food groups, counting calories, restricting all day and bingeing at night or obsessively exercising all in a hope to achieve a certain body size or weight, this is not the size or weight you are meant to be at!
In practical terms, embracing set point theory involves learning to implement some of the tools seen in mindful and intuitive eating practices. One of the key steps is being able to listen to and respect the body's internal hunger and fullness cues. The theory is that if you can listen to and respond to your hunger calmly and appropriately in conjunction with honouring your fullness you will not overeat and therefore your weight will remain stable, within the range it wants to be at. This allows for a healthier relationship with food to be fostered, whilst promoting self-trust and empowering individuals to reconnect with their bodies.
Set Point Theory might initially sound really scary if you are at the start of your eating disorder recovery. However, allowing yourself to understand that there is a genetically pre-determined weight range your body wants to sit within can be liberating as it allows you to let go of control, shift your mindset towards self-acceptance and redefine your relationship with food.
If you think you might be living with disordered eating, an undiagnosed eating disorder or a diagnosed eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, orthorexia or binge eating disorder then I am here to help!