Support for eating disorders

Registrations are being taken for a new community support group for families of people suffering from eating disorders, with plans afoot to form another group specifically aimed at training teachers and counsellors about warning signs.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board clinical psychologist Daniela Alloro has already posted letters to colleges inviting school counsellors and parents to the community support group scheduled to meet four times in October.
"I think it's quite important for people working in the education field to be as aware as possible about the early signs of eating disorders," Dr Alloro said.
There are about 30 eating disorder patients being referred through DHB's community and child and adolescent mental health services in Tauranga and Whakatane.
The patients, usually referred to the services by their GPs, range in age from a woman in her mid-50s to a girl aged 13.
Dr Alloro may also look at eating disorders among Maori and Pacific Island people.
"There are some indications that there has been a change in perception among younger generations of Maori.
"Where traditionally among Maori there has been an emphasis on being strong, it seems now that the ideal body image is thinner and slimmer.
"While there are no statistics among the Maori population, I just wonder whether it's a trend that could affect eating disorder."
It's an area of expertise for Dr Alloro, who focused her doctoral dissertation on eating disorder and worked as a specialist in the field in the United States before coming to New Zealand.
She and her team meet monthly with clinicians to review cases, and she is also a member of the Midland DHBs group that meets with other regional specialists and liaises with the Eating Disorder service in Auckland.
People attending the October support group would pick up tips about how to communicate with people with eating disorders.
People interested in attending the free community support group, from 4pm-5.30pm on October 6, 13, 20 and 27, should email barbara.johnstone@bopdhb.govt.nz.