
Eating awareness information sessions
The Eating Awareness Team at St John of God Waipuna runs an information night series titled "Food, Mood and Peaceful Living". These information sessions are open to people of all ages and aim to provide education to those who may be suffering from an eating issue or disorder, family and friends of people suffering from an eating issue or disorder, or other members of the community who may be interested in finding out more about eating issues and disorders.
What is an eating issue?
An eating issue happens when someone has an unhealthy relationship with food, as a result of repetitive dieting, binge eating and purging (abusing laxatives or exercising excessively), or refusing to eat. People of any size can have an eating issue.
What do the sessions cover?

- The relationship between our bodies, our minds and how we eat.
- The effects of restricted and irregular eating.
- The effects of dieting.
- Understanding metabolism.
- Understanding how our eating patterns affect our energy, mood, and desire for food.
- Strategies for trying to have a more peaceful relationship with food.
- Alternatives to restricted eating and bingeing, and tactics for avoiding bingeing.
- Mindful eating.
- Nutrition basics.
The information sessions run from 6 pm to 7:30 pm over three consecutive weeks. Please contact us for the dates of the next information series.
Cost: Free
Location: 349 Woodham Rd, Wainoni, Christchurch
For more information, or to register your interest in attending, please contact the Eating Awareness Team at St John of God Waipuna on (03) 386‑2159 or email enquiries.waipuna@sjog.org.nz. Spaces are limited, so please register your interest before attending.
Written by St John of God Waipuna. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by the South Island Eating Disorders Service, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed December 2017.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public.
Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria, What should I say to someone with an eating disorder? 2007.
Eating Awareness Team, St John of God Waipuna, patient information leaflets: Bulimia and addiction; Dieting makes you binge; Eating awareness information sessions; Eating disorders as coping strategies; How should I react?; How to help; Information for family & friends; Males: bulimia, binge, anorexia; Signs & symptoms of possible eating problems; What are the medical complications of eating disorders? What is anorexia? What is binge eating?; What is bulimia?
Kings College London, Eating disorders.
Maudsley Parents
NHS Choices: Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia; Anorexia nervosa – David's story (archived).
South Island Eating Disorders Service, patient information leaflets: Answers to often asked questions; Got a question?; The facts; Tips for families.
Tom Shiltz, Anorexia nervosa in males. National Eating Disorders Association.
Page reference: 74408
Review key: HIEDI-73561