Free Eating Disorder Recovery Worksheets and Handouts

Everyday reflection about eating, exercise, body checking and distress can be difficult when diet culture and weight-focused messages are everywhere, and this eating disorder recovery workbook module gives people a clear place to start. It covers what eating disorders are, common myths and facts, how symptoms can affect physical health, relationships, study, work, mood and quality of life, and includes a checklist with responses from “Never” to “Very Often” to help identify patterns such as food restriction, binge eating, purging, laxative or diuretic misuse, compulsive exercise, appearance checking and avoidance.

Most suited to people beginning recovery from an eating disorder, those wondering whether their eating behaviours may be disordered, and families, carers or mental health practitioners supporting them, the module can be used for self-help, counselling sessions, psychoeducation, or discussion before a GP or medical review. It also prompts users to take physical health seriously, lists symptoms needing urgent medical attention, and explains that eating disorders arise from a mix of genetic and environmental factors rather than personal blame. Developed by clinical psychologists specialising in eating disorder treatment.

When someone feels trapped in repeated eating disorder behaviours, this module helps name the patterns that maintain the problem without blaming the person. It covers unhelpful beliefs about eating, weight and shape, rigid food rules, restriction, driven exercise, binge eating, purging behaviours, body checking, body avoidance, distress and starvation syndrome, including how malnutrition can affect mood, concentration, social connection and physical health at any weight.

The handout is suited to adults and older teenagers working on eating disorder recovery, as well as clinicians, therapists, mental health practitioners, dietitians and support workers looking for CBT-style eating disorder psychoeducation. It can be used to discuss the vicious cycle of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and disordered eating behaviours, to prepare for treatment goals, or to help families understand why recovery cannot be based on weight loss attempts. Medical review is highlighted as important where restriction, vomiting, over-exercise, laxatives, diuretics or recent weight loss are present.

The weekly weighing activity asks readers to predict the number on the scale, record the actual number, reflect on the difference, and look for trends over several weeks rather than reacting to one weigh-in. Alongside this exercise, the module explains why body weight naturally fluctuates due to fluid intake, clothing, time of day, food, bowel and bladder changes, menstruation, medications, scales and other everyday factors.

Suitable for people recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder or other eating disorder behaviours where weight checking or weighing avoidance has become distressing, it may also be useful for therapists, counsellors, dietitians and mental health practitioners using eating disorder recovery worksheets in sessions. The content covers set point weight, the limits of BMI, fear of weight gain, over-checking, avoidance, and how weekly weighing can be used to test predictions and reduce the power of the scale over time.

In therapy sessions, dietetic appointments or at home between appointments, Break-Free-From-ED—04—Self-Monitoring offers a structured eating disorder self-monitoring form for people working on recovery from restrictive eating, binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse or over-exercise. It explains what self-monitoring is, why real-time recording matters, and how to note food and fluid intake, location, binge episodes, compensatory behaviours, exercise, situations, thoughts and feelings without counting calories or measuring food.

The module is particularly suited to adults and older teenagers using CBT-based eating disorder recovery materials, as well as counsellors, psychologists, dietitians and mental health practitioners supporting clients with food diaries, meal logs or eating behaviour records. It includes an example completed form, guidance on common barriers such as shame, guilt, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, plus references to blank self-monitoring sheets and a weekly progress tracker for practical use.

Regular eating and energy balance are the main themes in this eating disorder recovery module, with a clear focus on how food intake affects tiredness, cravings, binge urges, blood sugar changes and semi-starvation symptoms. It explains the role of 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks, gaps between eating, carbohydrates as a key energy source, and the way restriction or inadequate intake can increase the risk of overeating or binge eating.

The pages include practical self-monitoring examples, energy level graphs, scenarios involving restriction, binge eating and vomiting, plus later sections listed for a personal energy graph, weekly progress tracker and module summary. It may be useful for adults and older teenagers recovering from an eating disorder, as well as counsellors, psychologists, dietitians and support workers using printable ED worksheets in sessions or between appointments.

A ready-made structure plan helps people map meals and snacks across the day, with guidance on eating every 3 to 4 hours, planning food in advance and using breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks as a foundation for recovery. The module explains what normal eating can mean in eating disorder recovery, why regular eating matters, and how structure can reduce delayed eating, picking, grazing, blood sugar dips and feeling out of control around food.

Suited to people working on anorexia, bulimia, binge eating patterns, restrictive eating or other disordered eating behaviours, it may also be useful for counsellors, psychologists, dietitians and carers supporting meal planning at home or in sessions. Practical sections include a sample daily eating structure, a step-by-step weekly plan for introducing meals and snacks, advice on recognising whether intake is enough, and early guidance on increasing carbohydrate portions and overall food quantity.

Working out how to move beyond “safe foods” can feel difficult during eating disorder recovery, and this module gives a structured way to explore food variety without relying on strict diet rules. It introduces the R.E.A.L. Food Pyramid, explains flexible and enjoyable eating, and includes a food variety table covering carbohydrates, protein, vegetables, fruit, calcium foods, fun foods, fluids, fats and oils, and diet foods or fillers.

People recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating patterns, restrictive eating or other eating disorder behaviours may find it useful alongside CBT-E, counselling, dietetic support or self-help work. The PDF includes prompts for reviewing meals from the past week, noticing rigid dietary rules, identifying feared foods, rating anxiety, and writing predictions to test through food exposure experiments.

Trying to make sense of repeated binge eating episodes can be difficult, especially when restriction, food rules, anxiety or distress are all involved. Break-Free-From-ED—08—Binge-Eating is a structured eating disorder recovery module focused on binge eating, overeating, subjective binges and objective binges. It explains common problems linked with binge eating, including guilt, shame, physical discomfort, compensatory behaviours and the cycle of restriction and bingeing.

The module includes reflective prompts for reviewing binge episodes, identifying physical hunger, psychological hunger and mood triggers, and noticing what tends to happen after a binge. It also introduces urge surfing and delaying the urge, with practical ideas such as using a timer and gradually increasing delay periods. It may be useful for adults, older teenagers, therapists, counsellors, dietitians and mental health practitioners supporting eating disorder recovery. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

People recovering from an eating disorder, especially those struggling with self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, diuretic misuse or compensatory behaviours after binge eating, are the most likely audience for this module. It is also relevant for eating disorder therapists, counsellors, dietitians, mental health practitioners and support workers looking for printable psychoeducation on purging, body image concerns, fullness, anxiety, guilt and eating disorder recovery.

Inside, the module explains what purging is, why people may purge, the medical risks linked with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and common myths such as vomiting removing all food or laxatives causing true weight loss. It includes reflective prompts, a checklist of personal reasons for purging, a graph showing how fullness can rise and fall over time, and a practical purging goal plan that can be used in therapy sessions, recovery planning, supported self-help or at home with appropriate clinical guidance.

When exercise starts to feel compulsory, guilt-driven, or tied to earning food, these pages help someone map what is happening and test safer changes. The PDF covers driven exercise in eating disorder recovery, including signs of compulsive exercise, over-exercising, exercise as a safety behaviour, physical health risks such as injury, dizziness, amenorrhoea and low bone density, and the need for medical input where there has been malnutrition, purging, recent weight loss or other health concerns.

People recovering from an eating disorder, as well as therapists, dietitians, exercise physiologists, youth workers and carers supporting them, could use it in sessions or at home to open up a careful discussion about movement. It includes a self-check table, guidance around balanced exercise, reference to safe return to exercise planning, and a behavioural experiment example for reducing, changing or pausing exercise while tracking predictions, outcomes and learning.

Clients recovering from an eating disorder, particularly those working on anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, purging, food restriction or driven exercise, may find this body image module useful once eating patterns are becoming more stable. It explains what body image means, how negative body beliefs can maintain eating disorder behaviours, and why body checking and body avoidance can keep someone stuck in a cycle of anxiety, self-criticism and appearance-focused self-worth.

Inside are practical prompts for identifying body checking behaviours such as mirror checking, weighing, measuring, pinching, comparing appearance on social media, looking at old photos, checking clothing fit and seeking reassurance. The module also includes a one-week monitoring task, a clear explanation of the problems linked with excessive checking, and a body checking “up” and “down” experiment that can be used in therapy sessions, recovery work at home, counselling, psychology appointments or dietetic support. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

People recovering from an eating disorder, along with therapists, counsellors, psychologists and eating disorder clinicians, may find this body image workbook useful for work on body avoidance, appearance anxiety and feared body-related situations. It is particularly suited to older teenagers and adults who avoid mirrors, clothes shopping, swimwear, photographs, exercise classes, social events, self-care, intimacy or eating in public because of distressing thoughts about their body.

The workbook explains how avoidance can keep body image concerns going, then offers structured CBT-style exposure exercises to help test negative predictions and build confidence. It includes a body avoidance table with anxiety ratings, a step-by-step mirror exposure activity, prompts for taking a neutral rather than judgemental approach to body description, and planning space for three personalised body exposure experiments.

Helps people map the link between eating disorder behaviours and underlying beliefs such as feeling not good enough, worthless, disgusting, rejected, helpless or needing to be perfect. The module explains what core beliefs are, how early experiences, body changes, weight comments, bullying, abuse, dieting messages and social comparison can shape them, and how these beliefs may keep anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, purging, restriction or over-exercise cycles going.

Suitable for adults, older teens, eating disorder clients and therapists using CBT or guided self-help, the pages include reflective prompts, examples, a situation-belief-thoughts-feelings-behaviour framework, and a core beliefs worksheet for recording evidence that a painful belief is not completely true. It can be used in therapy sessions, recovery homework, support work, or personal journalling to reconnect with valued areas of life such as health, relationships, study, work and goals.

A clear eating disorder relapse prevention plan helps people recognise triggers, warning signs and next steps before a small setback becomes harder to manage. The module reviews practical recovery skills such as self-monitoring, weekly weighing, regular eating, urge surfing, behavioural experiments, exposure, reducing body checking and body avoidance, and challenging unhelpful body image beliefs.

People recovering from an eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating difficulties or other disordered eating patterns, may find it useful as a printable recovery maintenance workbook. It is also suitable for psychologists, counsellors, dietitians, GPs and support workers using CBT eating disorder strategies in sessions, especially when helping someone create a personalised setback plan with triggers, warning signs, reminders and specific actions.

In everyday eating disorder support, clear information can make difficult conversations easier, especially when a young person, parent or carer is trying to understand anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED or ARFID. The pack covers what eating disorders are, common signs and behaviours such as restriction, binge eating, purging, laxative misuse, fasting and excessive exercise, plus the physical risks linked with heart health, electrolytes and bone density.

Families, carers, adolescents, mental health practitioners, dietitians, school wellbeing staff and clinicians can use the handouts for psychoeducation, session discussion, home reading or printed support alongside a recovery workbook. Later sections explain eating disorders and neurobiology, including genetics, epigenetics, malnutrition, brain functioning and recovery, then introduce Family Based Therapy for young people with anorexia nervosa, including the evidence, urgency of treatment and the three treatment phases. Some sections were developed with Professor Tracey Wade and Andrew Wallis.

Eating disorder types are explained through a concise, one-page mental health information sheet covering anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED and ARFID. It describes key signs such as food restriction, binge eating, purging, fear of weight gain, excessive exercise, shame around eating, sensory-based food avoidance and atypical anorexia nervosa, while also noting that eating disorders can affect people of any gender, age, background, body shape or size.

Parents, carers, teachers, school wellbeing teams, counsellors and health professionals could use it as a printed handout during early conversations about disordered eating, body image concerns or eating disorder symptoms. The content is especially suited to older teenagers and adults who need a plain-English overview of different eating disorders, including how they can affect physical health, mental health, social functioning and quality of life. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

Adults, older teenagers, clients in eating disorder treatment, counsellors, dietitians and mental health practitioners are the people most likely to find this binge eating handout useful. It explains the difference between objective binge eating, subjective binge eating and overeating, including the role of loss of control, guilt, shame, purging behaviours, fasting and driven exercise.

The sheet is structured as a concise psychoeducation resource, with sections on facts about binge eating, what triggers binge eating, and problems linked with binge episodes. It covers physical hunger, psychological hunger, rigid dietary rules, black-and-white thinking, distress, physical health effects, self-criticism, avoidance and how binge eating can maintain an eating disorder cycle. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

In an eating disorder therapy session, dietetic appointment or family support conversation, this printable information sheet can help explain why restrictive eating, irregular eating, purging or other compensatory behaviours can affect the whole body and mind. It describes starvation syndrome, also called semi-starvation, and uses the Minnesota Starvation Experiment to show how reduced energy intake can lead to physical changes such as fatigue, feeling cold, dizziness, fluid retention, hair loss and hormone changes, alongside depression, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, obsessional thinking, withdrawal and preoccupation with food.

The sheet is especially suited to people recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating with restriction, OSFED or other eating disorders, as well as carers, parents, psychologists, counsellors, eating disorder practitioners and dietitians who need a clear psychoeducation handout. It explains that starvation symptoms can occur at any body weight, outlines why fear of eating can keep restriction going, and reinforces the role of consistent, adequate nutrition, regular meals, physical re-nourishment and weight restoration where needed as part of eating disorder recovery.

In everyday recovery work, set point theory can be a helpful way to make sense of why restriction often leads to stronger hunger, more thoughts about food and a slower metabolism. The handout explains the idea of a natural body weight range, compares it with genetically influenced traits such as height, and describes how the body may respond when weight drops below that range.

The sheet is likely to be useful for adults and older teenagers with eating disorders, especially those struggling with dieting, fear of weight gain, starvation syndrome, food obsession or binge eating after restriction. It can be printed for therapy sessions, dietetic appointments, psychoeducation groups or home reflection, giving clients and families a concise explanation of body weight regulation and why recovery may require returning to a healthy range for the individual’s body. It acknowledges the contribution of the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service.

The gene-environment interaction explanation gives a helpful way to talk about why some people develop an eating disorder after dieting, illness, stress or weight loss while others do not. It covers genetics, epigenetics, the idea that “genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger”, and how cultural pressure around appearance, food and exercise can act as a trigger for people with higher genetic vulnerability.

The handout also explains how eating disorders affect the brain, including changes linked with inadequate nutrition, decision-making, emotional regulation, body perception and serotonin. It is likely to be useful for parents, carers, teenagers, young adults, eating disorder clinicians, counsellors and dietitians who want a printable psychoeducation sheet for sessions, home discussions or treatment planning. The contribution of Professor Tracey Wade and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service is acknowledged.

For GPs, eating disorder clinicians, counsellors, dietitians, school wellbeing staff and adults or teenagers in treatment, this eating disorders health risks information sheet gives a concise overview of the medical complications linked with disordered eating. It explains serious physical effects including heart problems, electrolyte imbalance, reduced bone density, osteoporosis risk, risks of regular vomiting, dental erosion, gastrointestinal problems, laxative misuse, weakened immune function and hormonal changes affecting menstruation, libido, fertility, pregnancy, thyroid hormones, appetite, puberty and growth.

The handout can be printed for appointments, therapy sessions, psychoeducation groups or family conversations where someone needs a clear explanation of why eating disorder recovery, nutritional rehabilitation and regular medical checks are important. It includes practical oral health advice after vomiting, guidance about constipation and bloating, and signposting to related handouts on calcium and bone health, vomiting, laxative misuse and hormones. Contributions are acknowledged from dentist Dr Tim Lego and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team.

Men experiencing concerns about food, eating, body weight, body shape, exercise, thinness or muscularity, as well as clinicians supporting male clients, are the most relevant audience for this single-page eating disorders information sheet. It covers key facts about eating disorders in men, including the misconception that eating disorders only affect girls and women, the estimate that around 25-40% of people with eating disorders are male, and the role of media objectification, sport, fitness ideals and sociocultural pressure.

The sheet is arranged into clear sections on myths and misconceptions, similarities and differences between men and women with eating disorders, and seeking treatment. It highlights practical warning signs and barriers to help-seeking, such as stigma, under-recognition, driven exercise, rapid weight loss, concerns about weight and shape, hormonal disruption, reduced sexual desire or functioning, and preoccupation with becoming more muscular or ‘bulking up’. It could be printed for GP appointments, counselling sessions, eating disorder psychoeducation, family discussions, or as a brief handout for male clients who may not yet recognise their symptoms as an eating disorder.

Recognising atypical anorexia nervosa can be difficult when a person’s weight does not fit common assumptions about anorexia, and this handout directly addresses that hidden-in-plain-sight problem. It explains the key signs of atypical AN, including eating far less than the body needs, intense fear of weight gain, negative body image, and self-worth becoming tied to weight or shape.

The sheet compares atypical anorexia nervosa with anorexia nervosa, then outlines starvation syndrome, physical health risks, emotional and cognitive effects, stigma, and reduced quality of life. It also summarises treatment needs such as renourishment, restoring or normalising weight, GP monitoring, dietitian input, CBT-ED for adults, Family Based Treatment for young people, and recovery-focused work on fears, distress, body acceptance, eating flexibility and exercise. The handout acknowledges the contribution of the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service.

Reducing shame and encouraging timely help are the main aims of this binge eating disorder information sheet, with plain-language explanations of BED symptoms, binge episodes and the difference between binge eating and overeating. It covers diagnostic features such as loss of control, eating larger amounts within a short period, distress, secrecy, eating quickly, eating when not physically hungry and feeling uncomfortably full.

The handout also outlines likely impacts on physical health and emotional wellbeing, including unstable blood sugars, disrupted hunger and fullness cues, reflux, guilt, shame, social withdrawal and body image concerns. It is suited to adults experiencing binge eating, family members trying to understand BED, and professionals such as GPs, psychologists, eating disorder clinicians and Health at Every Size dietitians who want a concise printable handout for appointments, therapy sessions or psychoeducation about CBT treatment and recovery support.

Use it as a brief psychoeducation handout in therapy sessions, dietetic appointments, GP consultations, school wellbeing support, or at home when a family needs clear information about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. The sheet explains what ARFID is, how it differs from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and why it is more complex than being a fussy eater, picky eater, selective eater, or stubborn about food.

The content is especially suited to parents and carers of children or teenagers with restricted eating, adults wondering whether their food avoidance may fit ARFID, and professionals supporting clients with eating difficulties. It covers the three common ARFID presentations, including lack of interest in food, fear of choking, vomiting or allergic reactions, and sensory sensitivities to texture, smell, taste or appearance, alongside physical health effects, psychological impacts, starvation syndrome, and treatment through CBT-AR. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

Use it as a brief psychoeducation handout in therapy sessions, dietetic appointments, GP consultations, school wellbeing support, or at home when a family needs clear information about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. The sheet explains what ARFID is, how it differs from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and why it is more complex than being a fussy eater, picky eater, selective eater, or stubborn about food.

The content is especially suited to parents and carers of children or teenagers with restricted eating, adults wondering whether their food avoidance may fit ARFID, and professionals supporting clients with eating difficulties. It covers the three common ARFID presentations, including lack of interest in food, fear of choking, vomiting or allergic reactions, and sensory sensitivities to texture, smell, taste or appearance, alongside physical health effects, psychological impacts, starvation syndrome, and treatment through CBT-AR. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

When a health concern is dismissed as being about weight, or a person receives unwanted weight loss advice instead of a proper assessment, this one-page information sheet helps put words around what has happened. It explains common unhelpful weight messages in healthcare settings, why they can occur, and the impact of weight stigma, including delayed diagnosis, poorer engagement with services, psychological distress, internalised shame and disordered eating patterns.

The handout is suited to people in larger bodies, people affected by eating disorders or body image distress, and clinicians wanting to offer more respectful, inclusive care. It includes practical appointment preparation tips, example phrases such as asking to focus on symptoms rather than weight, and guidance for providers on asking permission, using preferred language, focusing on wellbeing behaviours, avoiding assumptions, seeking training and checking that clinical spaces and equipment are accessible for different body shapes and sizes.

When a health concern is dismissed as being about weight, or a person receives unwanted weight loss advice instead of a proper assessment, this one-page information sheet helps put words around what has happened. It explains common unhelpful weight messages in healthcare settings, why they can occur, and the impact of weight stigma, including delayed diagnosis, poorer engagement with services, psychological distress, internalised shame and disordered eating patterns.

The handout is suited to people in larger bodies, people affected by eating disorders or body image distress, and clinicians wanting to offer more respectful, inclusive care. It includes practical appointment preparation tips, example phrases such as asking to focus on symptoms rather than weight, and guidance for providers on asking permission, using preferred language, focusing on wellbeing behaviours, avoiding assumptions, seeking training and checking that clinical spaces and equipment are accessible for different body shapes and sizes.

A quick printable handout helps people understand safer ways to use artificial intelligence for mental health learning, planning and self-help without treating it as therapy, diagnosis or crisis support. It explains what AI is, how tools such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot work in broad terms, and why AI can sound human while still being unable to think, feel or provide genuine care.

Sections cover helpful uses such as practical problem solving, breaking tasks into smaller steps, exposure planning, routines, journalling prompts and simplifying therapy notes or self-help material. It also flags common risks, including hallucinations, inaccurate answers, bias, reassurance seeking, over-reliance, privacy concerns and using AI for emotional validation. It is likely to suit adults, young people, therapy clients, counsellors, psychologists, GPs, support workers and educators who want a clear AI mental health handout to discuss in sessions, groups, clinics or at home. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

In a therapy room, clinic appointment or pre-treatment discussion, this eating disorder treatment orientation sheet can help clients understand what CBT for eating disorders usually involves. It outlines the collaborative nature of treatment, the role of a clinical psychologist, goal setting, practising skills between sessions, tracking eating patterns, noticing thoughts and feelings, and facing uncomfortable tasks that support recovery.

The handout is particularly suited to adults or older young people starting outpatient eating disorder therapy, as well as clinicians, care coordinators and family members who want a clear explanation of the treatment structure. It covers essential aspects such as weekly open weighing, daily self-monitoring, regular attendance, making consistent changes, attending doctor appointments, possible hospital or higher-level support if health deteriorates, and the early, middle and ending phases of CBT treatment.

Real-time self-monitoring is the central skill in this eating disorder information sheet, with clear guidance on recording food and liquid intake as soon as possible after eating or drinking. It covers what to write down in an eating disorder food diary or meal record, including the time, specific location, whether an episode felt like a binge, any vomiting or laxative use, relevant thoughts and feelings, body checking, weighing, and exercise.

The printable handout is most suited to people already engaged in eating disorder treatment, particularly adults or older teenagers working with a therapist, counsellor, psychologist or dietitian on binge eating, purging, restrictive eating, compensatory behaviours or unhelpful eating patterns. A completed example record shows how entries can look across a day, making it easier to use between sessions and then review together in therapy. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions, with acknowledgement of the WAEDOCS team.

The sections on problems with avoiding weighing and problems with frequent weighing set out why both patterns can keep eating disorder thoughts, body image anxiety and weight fears going. The handout explains how avoidance can increase fear of the number on the scale, limit opportunities to practise tolerating difficult emotions, and reinforce beliefs about weight, worth and control.

Later content explains why weekly weighing, at the same day and time each week, can give a more accurate view of weight trends than repeated checking throughout the day. It also describes normal daily weight fluctuations linked to food, fluid, hormones, salt intake, bowel and bladder function, carbohydrate restriction, bingeing and purging, making it useful for clinical sessions, recovery planning, psychoeducation, or supported weighing with a trusted person or health professional.

In practice, the handout can be used during therapy sessions, psychoeducation groups, supervision discussions or at home to help someone spot the small precautions they rely on when anxiety rises. It is particularly relevant for people working on eating disorders, health anxiety, social anxiety, contamination fears or panic-related worries, as it includes examples such as weighing repeatedly, avoiding touching public objects, carrying water to prevent choking fears, and wearing headphones to avoid conversations.

The sheet explains what safety behaviours are, how to tell whether a behaviour is being used because of anxiety, and why these coping strategies can maintain fear over time. It covers key CBT ideas including avoidance, self-fulfilling prophecies, self-focused attention and the way people can mistakenly credit a safety behaviour when the feared outcome does not happen, making it useful for therapists, counsellors, psychologists and clients preparing for exposure work or behavioural experiments.

Trying to work out what balanced, non-disordered eating looks like can be difficult during recovery from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating difficulties or other eating disorder behaviours. Eating Disorders Information Sheet: Normal Eating vs Disordered Eating sets out the key parts of normal eating, including regular eating, how much food a person may need, food variety, macronutrients, daily food groups, and the place of enjoyable foods such as cake, chocolate or crisps.

The handout also covers reasons for eating beyond hunger, including pleasure, social connection, celebration and emotions, then explains why eating during treatment may look more planned or structured than recovered eating. It may be useful for adults and young people in eating disorder recovery, carers supporting meals at home, and clinicians discussing flexible eating, intuitive eating, balanced meals and recovery goals. The handout acknowledges the contribution of dietitian Kate Fleming.

Support around breaking the vicious cycle of dieting is the main focus here, helping readers understand why strict diet rules, semi-starvation and deprivation can increase the risk of overeating or binge eating. The information sheet covers what a diet is, why many diets prescribe too little food, how hunger cues can become disrupted, and how rigid food rules can lead to feelings of failure, guilt, low mood and further restriction.

Useful for adults and older teenagers experiencing disordered eating, binge eating, chronic dieting or recovery from an eating disorder, it can also be used by counsellors, dietitians, therapists and mental health professionals in sessions. The handout supports conversations about regular eating, flexible food guidelines, all food groups, occasional foods, and moving away from “good food” and “bad food” thinking. Kate Fleming, Dietician, is acknowledged for her contribution.

Support with building a steady eating routine is the main purpose of this one-page eating disorder recovery handout. It explains what regular eating means, why eating every three hours can help, and how a pattern of breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and an evening snack can reduce delayed eating, grazing, binge eating vulnerability, tiredness and poor concentration.

The handout is likely to be useful for people in eating disorder treatment, especially those working on anorexia recovery, bulimia recovery, binge eating prevention, meal planning, normalised eating or reducing restrictive eating patterns. Dietitians, therapists, counsellors and carers could use it in sessions or at home as a simple printable reminder of the 3 Ps, Plan, Prepare, Prioritise, alongside practical tips on snacks, purging, spacing meals and drinking enough water. Kate Fleming, Dietitian, and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team are acknowledged in the handout.

Planning what to eat after an eating disorder can feel easier with a simple recovery meal structure in front of you. The sheet sets out 10 dietary guidelines for eating disorder recovery, covering 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks, eating around every 3 hours, mechanical eating, meal and snack planning, the Thirds Rule for lunch and dinner, and the need to avoid relying on fillers, volume eating or diet foods.

Likely to be useful for people recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating difficulties or restrictive eating patterns, as well as carers, parents, partners, dietitians and therapists supporting recovery meals. It can be printed for home use, meal support, nutrition appointments or therapy sessions, with reminders about fun foods, essential fatty acids, fluid intake, supported eating, staying with someone after meals, and the 4E’s rule, Exercise Equals Extra Eating. Caitlin McMaster, Susan Hart and the WAEDOCS team are acknowledged as contributors.

Sorting through conflicting diet advice online, from social media, influencers, friends, fitness experts or health professionals, can be especially difficult for someone affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating. The sheet explains how biased search terms can reinforce existing beliefs through confirmation bias, then suggests using neutral search phrases and deliberately looking for alternative viewpoints when researching nutrition, food rules, carbohydrates, weight gain claims or healthy eating advice.

The handout is set out as a concise information sheet with sections on searching for advice, evaluating information, why one size does not fit all, and when to seek a second opinion. It may be useful for eating disorder clinicians, dietitians, therapists, school counsellors, parents and carers to print for sessions or home discussions, particularly when supporting teens, young people or adults to question unreliable dietary advice and speak with a GP or dietitian before making major changes to eating or exercise habits.

Trying to explain why energy needs can rise during eating disorder recovery is easier with a clear, printable metabolism information sheet like this. It covers what metabolism means, how the body turns food and drink into energy, and why energy is needed for organ function, growth and repair, movement, and digestion through the thermic effect of food.

The handout is especially suited to people recovering from an eating disorder, parents and carers supporting recovery, and clinicians such as dietitians, therapists or mental health practitioners who want a simple psychoeducation tool for sessions. It outlines factors that affect metabolic rate, including muscle mass, dieting, fasting, weight loss, regular eating, genes, sex, activity, life stage, infection and illness, then explains hypermetabolism in recovery and why someone may need more nutrition than expected for a period of time. Kate Fleming, Susan Hart, Caitlin McMaster and the WAEDOCS team are acknowledged for their contribution.

In practice, the pyramid can be used as a printable meal planning prompt during dietetic appointments, therapy sessions, supported meals, recovery planning at home, or conversations with families and carers. It explains the Recovery from Eating Disorders for Life Food Pyramid and sets out the role of key food groups, including carbohydrates for energy and blood glucose stability, protein for growth and repair, calcium foods for bone health, vegetables, fruit, fluids, nuts, oils and fats, fun foods, and diet foods or fillers.

People recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating patterns or other eating disorder difficulties may find the layout useful for challenging rigid food rules and checking whether meals and snacks include enough variety. The handout is especially suited to older teenagers and adults working with an eating disorder dietitian, mental health practitioner, GP, support worker or family member, and it includes examples of foods in each category rather than a strict diet plan. It acknowledges contributions from dietitians Susan Hart and Caitlin McMaster, and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team.

In practice, the handout can be printed for meal planning, dietetic appointments, eating disorder therapy sessions, family support at home, or as a quick reference when someone is unsure what counts as a serve. It is most suited to adults or older teenagers in eating disorder recovery, carers supporting normal eating, and clinicians looking for a clear serving size chart covering food groups, portion examples, daily intake targets and balanced eating.

The PDF covers six main food groups with recommended daily serves: grains, protein, fats, vegetables, fruit, and dairy and alternatives. It also includes a “Fun Foods” section with examples such as ice cream, cake, chips, lollies and chocolate, reinforcing that enjoyment and flexibility can be part of recovery. Notes explain that needs vary by age, gender, activity level, body size and stage of treatment, including weight restoration where relevant. Kate Fleming, Dietitian, and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team are acknowledged for their contribution.

In an eating disorder therapy session, dietetic appointment or family discussion at home, Eating Disorders Information Sheet – Carbohydrates Myths and Facts can help explain carbohydrates in clear, reassuring language for teenagers, young people and adults in recovery. It covers sugars, starches and dietary fibre, the meaning of low GI and high GI foods, and why carbohydrates matter for brain fuel, muscle protection, gut health, hydration, serotonin, sleep, appetite and feeling satisfied after meals.

The handout also addresses common carbohydrate myths, including fears that carbs automatically cause weight gain, that low carb diets are the best way to lose weight, or that eating carbohydrates in the evening is harmful. It outlines possible effects of low carbohydrate intake such as constipation or diarrhoea, bad breath, fatigue, mood changes, poor concentration and reduced immunity, making it useful for dietitians, therapists, eating disorder clinicians, parents and carers who need a printable carbohydrate education handout. Kate Fleming, Dietitian, and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team are acknowledged contributors.

In day-to-day recovery conversations, calorie counting often comes up as a habit that feels reassuring but can keep food choices tied to rules, anxiety and control. The handout explains what calorie counting means, where calorie information commonly appears, such as food labels, exercise machines, menus, apps and social media, and why calorie limits can be unreliable because energy needs change with activity, body composition, metabolism, temperature and eating patterns.

The sheet is likely to be useful for adults or older teenagers in eating disorder recovery, people trying to reduce food tracking, and clinicians, dietitians or mental health practitioners supporting a healthier relationship with food. It covers obsession and control, disrupted hunger and fullness cues, physical health risks, mental health effects, and how calorie counting can hinder recovery, then offers practical tips such as deleting tracking apps, choosing foods based on enjoyment, avoiding calorie-focused menus where possible, blocking restrictive content and gradually reducing checking behaviours. The handout acknowledges the contribution of the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service.

When a person feels anxious about “bad” foods, avoids social meals or spends excessive time researching nutrition, this clean eating information sheet gives a concise way to talk about when healthy eating becomes unhealthy. It explains clean eating, orthorexia-style patterns, restrictive eating and food group avoidance, then outlines risks for physical health, mental health, mood, emotions and relationships.

The sheet includes a clear self-check section with questions about guilt, rigid food rules, meal planning, judging others’ eating, difficulty eating food prepared by someone else and losing confidence in nourishment. It may be useful for adults, older teenagers, parents, carers, dietitians, GPs, psychologists and eating disorder practitioners as a printable psychoeducation handout, discussion prompt or early signposting tool. It also suggests flexible eating, using nutritional standards, limiting nutrition research and seeking qualified professional support, with contribution acknowledged to Kate Fleming, Dietitian, and WAEDOCS.

Better support around iron intake, iron deficiency risk and food choices is provided through a concise one-page information sheet aimed at people affected by eating disorders, restrictive eating, low calorie diets, vegetarian or vegan eating patterns, and those with higher iron needs such as menstruating or pregnant women. It explains what iron does in the body, approximate daily iron requirements for children, teenagers, adults and pregnancy, and the difference between haem iron from animal foods and non-haem iron from plant-based foods.

The handout includes clear sections on symptoms of iron deficiency, foods that increase iron absorption such as animal protein, vitamin C and vitamin A, and foods or drinks that may reduce absorption including tea, coffee, cola, legumes, brans and wholegrains. Tables compare the iron content and estimated iron absorbed from foods such as beef liver, steak, lamb, chicken, fish, bran flakes, kidney beans, tofu, spinach and raisins, making it useful for dietitians, eating disorder clinicians, support workers and families discussing nutrition at home or in sessions. Kate Fleming, Dietitian, and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service are acknowledged for their contribution.

Dietary fat in eating disorder recovery is the central theme of this one-page nutrition information sheet, with a focus on challenging fears such as “all fat is bad” and explaining why fat is needed for energy storage, hormone production, brain health, skin health, vitamin absorption and feeling satisfied after meals. It also outlines key fat types, including saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, omega-3 fats, trans fats and cholesterol, using everyday food examples such as dairy foods, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, oils, avocado and spreads.

People recovering from an eating disorder, carers supporting regular eating, dietitians, therapists and mental health professionals could use it as a printable fat facts handout during nutrition counselling, meal support, psychoeducation groups or home discussions. The “five tips” section is practical, suggesting spreads on bread, cooking oils, full-fat calcium-rich foods, nuts, seeds and variety across meals, with contributions acknowledged from dieticians Caitlin McMaster, Susan Hart and Kate Fleming, and the WAEDOCS team.

Deciding whether a vegetarian or vegan diet is supporting recovery or quietly maintaining restriction is the problem this eating disorders information sheet helps explore. It explains what vegetarian and vegan diets involve, why people may choose them, and how plant-based eating can overlap with restrictive eating, food avoidance, weight and shape concerns, or strong aversion to meat and animal products.

The sheet includes reflective questions for people in eating disorder treatment, plus practical nutrition guidance on protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B12, with notes on absorption and fortified foods. It is likely to be useful for adults, teens or older adolescents in recovery, as well as dietitians, therapists and carers discussing vegan eating, vegetarian meal planning, anorexia recovery, ARFID-style avoidance, or nutrition risks during treatment. The handout acknowledges dietician Kate Fleming and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team.

In eating disorder therapy, GP appointments, dietetic reviews or family discussions, this printable information sheet can help explain when exercise becomes compulsive, excessive, rigid or linked to calorie compensation. It covers how movement can maintain an eating disorder, then sets out key questions about whether activity rejuvenates the body, supports mind-body connection and reduces rather than creates stress.

The handout lists signs of unhelpful exercise, including exercising despite injury, fatigue or illness, using movement to ‘earn’ food, cancelling plans to exercise, secrecy, guilt, anxiety and purging-related exercise. It also outlines possible consequences such as cardiovascular damage, bone damage, reproductive issues and delayed recovery, alongside safer exercise guidance, rest, eating after activity, medical monitoring and when to speak to a GP. It is especially suited to adults or young people recovering from an eating disorder, carers supporting someone at home, and clinicians discussing compulsive exercise, over-exercising or exercise addiction behaviours in sessions. Alanah Dobinson, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, is acknowledged for her contribution.

In everyday eating disorder support, conversations about vomiting, purging and the binge purge cycle can be difficult, especially when someone believes vomiting will undo eating or prevent weight gain. This information sheet sets out two common myths, including the idea that vomiting removes all calories and the belief that it protects against weight gain, then explains why these beliefs can keep overeating and purging going.

The PDF also lists the physical and emotional effects of regular self-induced vomiting, including tooth enamel erosion, swollen salivary glands, calloused knuckles, oesophageal injury, disrupted digestion, impaired hunger and fullness cues, electrolyte imbalance, shame, anxiety and secrecy. It may be useful in therapy sessions, GP appointments, dental reviews or psychoeducation work with teenagers and adults experiencing bulimia, binge eating with purging, or other eating disorder symptoms.

Laxative misuse, including stimulant laxative use and senna-based laxatives, is the central theme of this one-page eating disorders information sheet. It covers what laxatives are, common myths about laxatives and weight loss, why bloating and constipation can happen in eating disorder recovery, the health risks of laxative abuse, and the short-term changes people may experience when stopping, such as constipation, fullness, temporary bloating and water retention.

The handout is likely to be useful for people experiencing an eating disorder who are using laxatives, as well as carers, eating disorder clinicians, dietitians, therapists and GPs looking for a clear printable explanation to support a conversation in sessions or at home. It gives practical guidance around regular eating, fibre, fluids and seeking medical advice, with a prominent warning about senna-based products and the need for professional support when reducing or stopping laxatives.

People recovering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or other eating disorders can use this information sheet to understand why bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, reflux, nausea, diarrhoea and feeling full after small amounts of food may happen during recovery. It explains how starvation, malnutrition, underuse of the gastrointestinal tract, reduced digestive enzymes, delayed gastric emptying, vomiting, electrolyte disturbances and low fibre or low fluid intake can affect normal digestion and bowel function.

The handout is most suited to teenagers and adults with eating disorders, parents and carers supporting meal plans, and clinicians discussing eating disorder digestive issues in therapy, dietetic or medical appointments. It can be printed for sessions or used at home to explain why GI discomfort does not always mean someone has eaten too much, why laxative misuse can worsen bowel problems, and why medical advice is important when symptoms are worrying. The handout acknowledges the contribution of the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service.

Designed to support safer nutrition planning and bone health awareness, Eating-Disorders-Information-Sheet—Calcium-and-Bone-Health explains how low calcium intake, malnutrition, weight suppression and hormone changes can affect bone density in people with eating disorders. It is especially relevant for adolescents, teenagers and adults with anorexia nervosa or restrictive eating, as well as parents, carers, dietitians and mental health professionals looking for a clear printable calcium information sheet.

The handout covers the role of calcium in bone strength, why puberty and early adulthood matter for peak bone density, and practical ways to improve bone health through nutrition, vitamin D, vitamin K, weight-bearing exercise and appropriate calcium supplements. It also includes daily calcium requirements, a calcium-rich foods table with dairy, tofu, sardines, almonds, beans and broccoli, plus lactose-free and soy-based alternatives; Kate Fleming, Dietician, and the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team are acknowledged for their contribution.

Adults, young people, families, carers, eating disorder clinicians, GPs, dietitians, counsellors, and mental health professionals may find this eating disorders and hormones information sheet useful when explaining the physical effects of weight suppression and inconsistent nutrition. It covers fertility in females and males, including low libido, absent or irregular periods, loss of early morning erections, and reduced fertility, while also noting that fertility can return unexpectedly and contraception may still be needed.

The sheet also summarises pregnancy risks linked with eating disorders, including high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, anaemia, miscarriage, premature birth, birth weight concerns, feeding difficulties, and breathing problems after birth. It includes a focused section on bone health and osteoporosis, explaining how changes in oestrogen, testosterone, cortisol, IGF-1, and leptin can affect bone strength, alongside brief notes on thyroid hormones, stress hormones, appetite, puberty, and growth. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions, with acknowledgement to WAEDOCS.

The weight gain in pregnancy section sets out the normal contributors to pregnancy weight, including the baby, placenta, amniotic fluid, increased blood volume, breast tissue, fluid retention and fat storage for breastfeeding. The handout also covers why pregnancy can feel vulnerable for someone with a current or past eating disorder, including body changes, cravings, morning sickness, exercise limits and comments from other people.

Parents-to-be, pregnant women with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or disordered eating concerns, and professionals supporting perinatal mental health may use it as a brief discussion aid in GP appointments, antenatal care, dietetic sessions or therapy. It outlines potential risks, changing nutritional requirements across pregnancy and breastfeeding, and practical support options such as regular GP care, antenatal and postnatal appointments, and help from clinicians with eating disorder experience. Kate Fleming, Dietitian, is acknowledged for her contribution.

In everyday therapy conversations and personal reflection, body avoidance can be hard to spot because it often looks like staying safe, keeping covered, avoiding mirrors, skipping swimming, avoiding clothes shopping, not exercising, eating away from others, or pulling back from touch and intimacy. Eating Disorders Information Sheet – Body Avoidance Behaviours explains how appearance, weight, shape and size concerns can lead people to avoid situations where their body feels exposed or judged.

The handout sets out five problems with body avoidance, including missing chances to test fears, keeping negative body image beliefs going, spreading anxiety into more areas of life, losing positive experiences, and the impossibility of avoiding the body altogether. It also introduces exposure experiments as a way to approach feared situations step by step or more directly, making it useful for people with eating disorders or disordered eating, body image anxiety, and clinicians, counsellors or dietitians supporting eating disorder recovery. The handout acknowledges contribution from the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service.

When body checking, comparison, frequent weighing, clothing checking or reassurance seeking is taking up too much time, this body checking behaviours information sheet helps people name what is happening and decide what they may want to change. It explains common eating disorder body checking behaviours, including mirror checking, touching or pinching body areas, mentally scanning the body, measuring, comparing body size or shape with others, checking clothing fit and asking others for reassurance about appearance, weight or size.

The handout also sets out why body checking can keep people stuck, including increased body dissatisfaction, unreliable body assessment, distorted ideas of what is “normal”, strain on relationships, lower self-worth, anxiety, shame and the eating disorder cycle. A short reducing body checking section suggests identifying behaviours, recording frequency and intensity, choosing two or three targets, setting goals to reduce, limit, postpone or stop behaviours, starting with easier changes and acknowledging progress. It is most suited to adults, older teenagers, eating disorder clinicians, counsellors, dietitians and carers supporting someone with body image concerns or eating disorder recovery.

Body acceptance is framed here as an ongoing relationship with the body, shaped by thoughts, feelings, beliefs, self-talk and other people’s comments. The handout explains body image, body dissatisfaction and the ways appearance concerns can affect mood, relationships, eating, exercise, body checking, body avoidance and everyday choices.

Practical prompts invite people to work with their genetics, explore where body beliefs came from, notice body parts they like, focus on body function, reduce checking and avoidance, question unhelpful beliefs, identify the emotions behind “feeling fat”, and practise kinder self-talk. It could be used in therapy, eating disorder support, counselling sessions, wellbeing work, or at home by adults and older teenagers wanting a concise body image worksheet or printable psychoeducation handout. The handout acknowledges the contribution of the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service team.

A clear one-page handout gives young people and adults a practical way to discuss media influence, body image concerns, self-esteem, social media comparison, edited images and advertising messages. It explains how idealised bodies are promoted through TV, apps, influencers, magazines, celebrities and product advertising, and highlights how filters, lighting, makeup, camera angles, digital editing and AI can create unrealistic images.

The sheet is likely to be useful for counsellors, therapists, school wellbeing staff, youth workers, parents and carers supporting teenagers or young adults with body dissatisfaction, eating disorder concerns, negative self-image or low confidence. It includes a media literacy question framework covering who created the message, who paid for it, the target audience, credibility, possible harms, missing body types and whether the viewer agrees with the values being promoted. The handout acknowledges the contribution of the Western Australia Eating Disorders Outreach and Consultation Service.

Print it for a CBT session, recovery discussion, psychoeducation group or personal thought diary work when someone is learning to spot cognitive distortions linked with food, weight, body image and self-judgement. The sheet covers mental filter, jumping to conclusions, mind reading, emotional reasoning, predictive thinking, personalisation, labelling, catastrophising, black and white thinking, shoulding and musting, overgeneralisation, and disqualifying the positives.

People experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating, body image anxiety or binge eating thoughts may find it useful as a simple reference for noticing automatic negative thoughts. It is also likely to suit therapists, counsellors, dietitians, mental health practitioners and support workers who want a concise printable handout for explaining unhelpful thinking patterns without needing a long worksheet.

In therapy sessions, recovery planning or personal reflection, a balance sheet can help make ambivalence about eating disorder change easier to see on paper. The worksheet prompts the person to list the perceived positives of the eating disorder, the negative consequences, the challenging parts of recovery, and the ways life may improve when the eating disorder is overcome.

The page is most suited to older teenagers and adults working on eating disorder recovery, as well as psychologists, counsellors, CBT practitioners, dietitians and mental health workers supporting clients with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating difficulties or disordered eating patterns. It can be printed and used as a motivation for change exercise, a pros and cons worksheet, or a discussion tool in sessions and home reflection. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

A clear step-by-step exposure plan helps people move from rigid food rules towards a more flexible relationship with eating. The worksheet explains common problems linked with avoided foods, fear foods and strict dietary rules, then asks the person to sort foods they avoid a little, a lot, or completely, using a 0 to 10 anxiety rating scale.

Included prompts guide a practical behavioural experiment: choosing a manageable food, writing down the feared prediction, planning when and where to try it, rating distress before, during and after, and recording the outcome. It is likely to be most useful for people working on eating disorder recovery, including those with restrictive eating, binge-purge cycles or high anxiety around specific foods, and for therapists, counsellors and dietitians using CBT or CBT-E style food exposure work in sessions or as homework. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.

Self-monitoring is the central skill in this eating disorders worksheet, with a structured daily chart for recording time, food and liquid intake, location, binge episodes, V/L, and the situation, thoughts or feelings connected with eating. The form also includes a separate space for exercise, including time and type, making it useful as a printable food log, eating disorder diary, CBT-E monitoring sheet, binge eating record, or meal tracking worksheet.

Most suited to adults, teenagers and young people working on bulimia, binge eating, restrictive eating patterns, purging behaviours, or disordered eating with a therapist, counsellor, psychologist, dietitian or eating disorder team. It can be filled in throughout the day rather than from memory, then reviewed in sessions to notice triggers, patterns, emotional links, avoidance, compensatory behaviours and changes over time. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.