Metro North Health

From social media trends to widely held misconceptions, it’s time to take a closer look at what we know about eating disorders with the team from the Queensland Eating Disorder Service.

Social Worker Amanda, Senior Dietitian Kate and Clinical Nurse Consultant Ambah work with consumers every day across various stages of diagnosis and treatment and have weighed in on some of the most common myths they hear.

❌"All `What I eat in a day` social media content is factual and helpful"❌
✔️This sort of content has an implied message that if you eat a certain way, you should look like the body that is being shown; it gives a pseudo stamp of authority.
✔️Combined with the visually aesthetic presentation of this content, some recommendations can be extremely harmful and do not accurately portray the correct amount of energy you need to consume in one day to properly fuel your body.

❌"Having an eating disorder is a lifestyle choice, and it is all about looks and appearance"❌
✔️Eating disorders have recognised genetic and biological predisposing factors, and arise in many circumstances, often to serve a function for the person. This may be to help someone feel in control of a difficult situation or manage challenging life circumstances; it is not just a simple decision to pursue a certain look
✔️Disordered eating may occur throughout major life events such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause but also relationship breakdowns, food and housing insecurities, grief and loss and during or after major life stressors.

❌Myth: You can tell someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them❌
✔️Someone may think they don`t have an eating disorder if they do not fit the stereotypical media-portrayed image of an eating disorder, however eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes, and affect people of all walks of life. Eating disorders do not discriminate and unfortunately, this misconception can contribute to a delay in receiving support. ...

If you like laughing until your belly aches, then you are in the right place at The Prince Charles Hospital on a Tuesday when Laughter Care Specialist Flora comes to visit! 🌼

Flora loves clowning around with patients like Margaret, playing her ukelele and singing classics with those on ward 1F.

"I`m just a bit of a fool, and I love to make new friends, as well as sing, so this is the perfect role for me," Flora said, upon joining the TPCH team.

"I love singing!" Margaret added, as she joined Flora in song.

Laughter Care Specialists are currently visiting our older patients, who tend to spend a while in hospital, with the hope of rolling out further across TPCH. 🤹‍♀️🤭 ...

The RBWH saw over 800,000 outpatients in the last year, and Nurse Navigator Amanda is one of a few special people making the hospital experience easier for them. 🏥🗺️

"It`s all about hospital avoidance so we look at ways we can engage our patients into attending their outpatient appointments, looking at the barriers to why they aren`t attending, and linking them with community support services," Amanda explains.

"We work with people who have two or more specialist outpatient specialists and may need that extra assistance, whether English is their second language or they don`t have much family support, we see a broad range of patients.

"We act as a central point of contact, and we work across multiple specialties, departments and external services to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time."

The RBWH Nurse Navigator service is recruiting for another compassionate and skilled clinician to join their team. If this sounds like you then click the link in our bio and apply today! #WorkforusWednesday ...