Understanding Eating Disorders: A Path to Recovery
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders can profoundly affect daily life, as well as physical and mental health. These complex conditions are often linked to obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and underlying anxiety. They can appear from a young age and impact both personal and professional life.
Who is affected?
Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. For example, anorexia nervosa mainly affects women, while pica can occur in both children and adults. Bulimic individuals are often impulsive and emotionally sensitive. Early diagnosis is crucial and requires the support of parents and family members.
Complex disorders requiring a comprehensive approach: Eating disorders are complex conditions involving obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and underlying anxiety. Neurofeedback offers a complementary approach that directly targets the brain imbalances associated with these disorders.
Effectiveness demonstrated by research: A 2018 scientific article published in Nutrients reported that after only 10 neurofeedback sessions, people with eating disorders showed fewer binge episodes and less distress, with effects lasting at least three months.
Some eating disorders and their symptoms
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- Anorexia nervosa: Intense food restriction aimed at significant weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight despite thinness, and a distorted body image.
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Difficulty eating reasonable quantities, sensory sensitivities that make eating complicated.
- Binge Eating Disorder: Regular, uncontrollable binge episodes without compensatory behaviors.
- Bulimia: Abnormal, compulsive ingestion of large amounts of food, often followed by compensatory behaviors.
- Pica: Uncontrollable urge to consume non-nutritive substances for at least one month.
Generalized anxiety, often present with eating disorders, is characterized by excessive and hard-to-control worry, along with symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
Regain a healthy relationship with food and peace of mind through Neurofeedback
Dealing with obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors related to food, or constant anxiety about your body and weight can turn every day into an exhausting battle. Whether you are a parent, a young adult, or a professional, these challenges may stem from brain imbalances that can be corrected through Neurofeedback.
“I finally found a method that helps me calm my thoughts about food and feel more at peace with my body. It changed my life.”
Regain balance without pressure with respectful support
Eating disorders in teens often arise from a mix of anxiety, perfectionism, fragile body image, and the need for control. It can look like avoiding certain foods, skipping meals, over-exercising, “cracking” and then feeling guilty, or fearing “losing control.” At school and with friends, fatigue, irritability, lack of concentration, and isolation can set in, making everything feel overwhelming.
Lina, 16, began restricting her eating to lose weight. Now she counts calories, avoids family meals, and exercises secretly. She struggles to keep up in class and constantly feels anxious and guilty.
“I feel less overwhelmed. I can listen to myself without panicking and eat with my friends without feeling in danger.”
Take back control of your choices—without fighting yourself
In adulthood, eating disorders can intertwine with stress, mental load, the pursuit of performance, or challenging life events. This may lead to cycles of restriction and compulsion, fixation on weight and appearance, or food avoidance (ARFID) linked to sensations and fears. Consequences: fatigue, brain fog, pain, guilt, and impacts on social, intimate, and professional life.
Emilie, 34, alternates between strict restriction periods and binge eating episodes in the evening. She feels like she’s on “autopilot,” sleeps poorly, and dreads every meal outside the home.
“I’m no longer at war with food. I sleep better, feel more present, and can plan my meals without anxiety.”
Understand, support, calm: you're not alone
Seeing your child restrict food, avoid certain textures, binge, or withdraw can be deeply distressing. Between fear of medical complications, family tensions, and feelings of helplessness, daily life becomes exhausting. Mealtimes turn into battlefields, communication grows tense, and collective anxiety rises.
Thomas and Nadia notice their 13-year-old daughter eats very little and avoids certain textures. Meals are a source of conflict, and the school reports fatigue and poor concentration.
“The atmosphere at the table has completely changed. Our daughter is less anxious, and we’ve rediscovered calm, simple mealtimes.”
Benefits of Neurofeedback
- Reduction of unwanted behaviors (binges, restrictions, purging, consumption of non-nutritive substances)
- Improved mental flexibility, helping to detach from obsessive food-related thoughts
- Enhanced judgment, allowing for healthier and more thoughtful choices
- Reduced anxiety and stress, which often accompany these disorders
- Increased well-being and better emotional regulation
- Provides lasting results without intrusive medication
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Neurofeedback Benefits for Teens
- Decreased anxiety and obsessive thoughts before/during meals; reduced body hypervigilance
- Reduced impulses (compulsions, excessive exercise) and “all-or-nothing” behaviors
- Improved mental clarity and academic focus
- More restorative sleep and more stable daily energy
- More stable mood, less irritability, and greater frustration tolerance
- Reduced social stress (meals with friends/family) and higher self-esteem
- Smoother progress alongside other treatments (nutrition, therapy)
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Targeted benefits of neurofeedback
- Reduced compulsions and emotional eating; fewer uncontrollable urges at the end of the day
- Calmer control and less rumination about weight and body image
- Better stress and emotion regulation: fewer anxiety peaks and more transparent decision-making
- Improved sleep, energy, and recovery, helping stabilize habits
- Reduced “autopilot” reactions to triggers; greater freedom of choice
- Decrease in brain fog and improved focus at work, resulting in steadier productivity
- Works in synergy with psychotherapy and nutritional counseling for lasting results
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Expected Benefits of Neurofeedback
- Reduction of the child’s (or teen’s) anxiety and meal-related crises
- Calmer hypervigilance and stress responses (in both child and parent), creating a more peaceful family climate
- Improved sensory tolerance (textures, smells), facilitating food variety (ARFID)
- Stabilized mood and sleep in the child; better attention at school
- Enhanced self-regulation: fewer compensatory behaviors and fewer table conflicts
- Improved family communication: less avoidance, more cooperation during meals
- Support for parents: increased sense of effectiveness, less guilt, and exhaustion
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How Our Neurofeedback Method Optimizes Your Relationship with Food
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive technique that trains the brain to optimize its electrical functioning. By targeting regions and networks involved in obsessive thoughts, impulsivity, and anxiety related to eating disorders, it’s possible to reduce symptoms and achieve inner balance sustainably.
Your journey begins with a 30-minute call with one of our advisors to discuss your specific needs and goals related to eating disorders.
You meet with a qualified psychologist or neuropsychologist for an assessment of your challenges and to define goals for achieving a healthy relationship with food.
A medical electrophysiology technologist records and analyzes your brain activity (qEEG) over 30-45 minutes.
Our team of specialists performs a detailed analysis of your qEEG data and provides a full written report.
Training typically includes at least 12 sessions per issue. At Neuroperforma, we utilize equipment with 19 electrodes, enabling us to read, analyze, and train 12,700 brain sites in 3D simultaneously.
Regular progress assessments are conducted, and your program is adjusted as needed.
The improvements achieved through neurofeedback are typically long-lasting.
Your First Session at Neuroperforma
We understand that starting a new process can raise many questions—especially when it comes to complex issues like eating disorders. That’s why we guide you step by step, with empathy and transparency, from the very first meeting.
You’ll meet your psychologist, who will introduce the method, explain the process, and answer all your questions.
A non-invasive measurement of your brain activity is performed (painless, with no side effects).
Your specialist will clearly and simply explain the findings.
A program tailored to your brain profile, goals, and schedule will be created and discussed with you.
What's Included
Complete qEEG assessment
included in your initial evaluation session
Non-invasive, scientifically recognized method
The electrodes only record brain signals.
A team of neurofeedback specialists
members of the Ordre des psychologues du Quebec
Commitment to regular follow-ups
and adjustments throughout the program. The benefits are generally long-lasting.
Important note
At Neuroperforma, our health professionals do not diagnose eating disorders.
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FAQ – Eating Disorders and Neurofeedback
What are the main types of eating disorders?
The most common are: Anorexia nervosa (food restriction, intense fear of weight gain), Bulimia nervosa (binge eating episodes followed by compensatory behaviors), Binge eating disorder (recurrent episodes without compensatory behaviors), Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and Pica.
Why are eating disorders linked to OCD and anxiety?
Because they share obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and high anxiety levels.
How can neurofeedback help with eating disorders?
Neurofeedback trains the brain to self-regulate in real time. Common goals include: Reducing anxiety, Improving mental flexibility, Strengthening judgment and self-control, and Stabilizing mood and sleep.
Is neurofeedback painful? Are there electric shocks?
No. The electrodes only record brain activity; no stimulation is delivered. The method is completely non-invasive and painless.
Scientific results
A 2018 scientific article published in Nutrients reported that after only 10 neurofeedback sessions, people with eating disorders showed fewer binge episodes and less distress, with effects lasting at least three months.
“I finally found a method that helps me calm my thoughts about food and feel more at peace with my body. It changed my life.”