Issue 48 | Eating Disorders in Military and Defence Personnel

Military and civilian service professions, such as the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and emergency services, as well as elite sports professions, require a certain level of physical fitness, discipline and performance. The intensive training undertaken by those in high performance occupations may not always prepare them for the potential psychological impacts (VVCS, 2016; Bartlett & Mitchell, 2015).

In this e-Bulletin issue, the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) gives an overview of the research on eating disorders in ex-serving military personnel, and takes a closer look at appropriate self-care and support pathways for Veterans, Australian Defence personnel and other elite professionals. This issue also discusses the risks and warning signs associated with eating disorders, to better assist health care providers, coaches and others working alongside people currently or previously involved in high performance occupations to appropriately identify and respond to symptoms.

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