Halloween brings unique — and sometimes scary — challenges for people living with eating disorders.
Those with eating disorders characterized by restriction, such as anorexia nervosa or avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, may be afraid to eat certain foods, says certified eating disorder specialist Lara Effland, a licensed independent clinical social worker and regional managing clinical director of the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center in Bellevue, Washington.
And for people with a disorder characterized by binge eating behaviors, such as binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa, Halloween may spark worries of losing control around candy and other festive foods, Effland adds.