News & Media Blog

ED Screening

ED Screening

July 14, 2023

A GP sees (either knowingly or unknowingly) at least 1 patient with an active eating disorder each day.

JCU: Interview with Dr. Kiera Buchanan

JCU: Interview with Dr. Kiera Buchanan

April 21, 2021

Interview with Dr. Kiera Buchanan, Director of the Centre For Integrative Health, after being awarded the 2017 James Cook University ‘Outstanding Alumni’ Award. 

Weight Stigma Awareness Week, 2020

Weight Stigma Awareness Week, 2020

September 30, 2020

I met Kiera in 2018 on a trip with ‘The Hunger Project’. On a bus in rural Uganda, we spoke about her work as a psychologist empowering people of all body shapes and sizes.

International Women’s Day: Our Message

International Women’s Day: Our Message

March 8, 2020

On International Women’s Day, we passionately strike the #EachforEqual pose. To us, this pose symbolises equality, compassionate boundaries, allyship, and the disruption of destructive gender-based cycles.

Exercise and eating disorders

Exercise and eating disorders

February 20, 2020

In an interview with Hack on Triple J, CFIH Psychologist, Ashleigh Olive, proposed a number of red flags that can help to identify someone with or at risk of an eating disorder.

How accurate are nutrition information panels?

How accurate are nutrition information panels?

October 2, 2018

Diet-culture loves numbers – we’re sold the idea that we can achieve tight and calculated control over food and our bodies through counting, tracking, weighing and measuring.

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#Repost @adhd.dietitian ・・・ Do any of these sound familiar? Let me know in the comments which ones you struggle with 👇 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In everyday life these things may look like: ➡️Overexercise - Using exercise as a way to cope, be active, or perhaps it started as a sport you played in school. But then it started to affect your life in a negative way (injuries, undernourished, feeling shame or guilt if you missed a day, spent way too many hours at the gym, poor body image). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➡️Executive dysfunction - You wanted to go to the gym but when you got home it felt impossible to put your gym clothes on and go. You struggle with prioritizing and planning. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➡️Diet culture - You might feel like the only “valid” form of exercise is going to the gym, going running, or doing some insane 60-minute workout in an attempt to change your body. And if you don't do those things, then you're “lazy” or it “doesn’t count”. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➡️Overwhelm and anxiety - The thought of going to the gym or working out brings on a whole new form of anxiety and overwhelm because you don't know how to start and end up avoiding it completely. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➡️All-or-nothing thinking - “I skipped a day so this week is already ruined. I’ll start over Monday." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➡️Analysis paralysis - Spend time searching yoga videos and “which workout is best”… before you know it 30 minutes have passed.
We don't aspire to all be the same height or to all have the same shoe size. Why then do we think that we should all be the same shape and/or size? Bodies come in a range of shapes and sizes. Such differences don't make some bodies better nor do they make other bodies any less valuable. All bodies are good bodies - exactly as they are. They don't need to be changed or altered, in any single way. They simply need to be appreciated, respected, nurtured, and cared for. How will you celebrate your good body today?
We hope you are all keeping warm this chilly winter morning. While it is bloody cold out there, it seems that there is no longer a health emergency out there. After careful review of the COVID policy updates released by Queensland Health, the Australian Government, and the World Health Organization (WHO), we have decided to remove the vaccination restrictions at CFIH - effective immediately. We will continue to monitor the situation and review it as necessary; take measures to ensure the health and safety of all those accessing our clinics; and respect individual decisions that our staff and clients make to protect themselves, however, we no longer require you to be vaccinated to visit our clinic. If you have any questions or concerns about what this means for your upcoming visit to our clinic, please contact our office manager at officemanager@cfih.com.au. Navigating a pandemic in the absence of prior experiences and/or reliable predictions of the future meant that we were forced to make many difficult decisions in our efforts to protect our people (both staff and current clients) the best that we knew how. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge those who were unfortunately unable to access our services during this time. We’d also like to express our immense gratitude and appreciation to those who supported us and got behind the decisions that we made during this time. We hope that this update means that we can all breathe a small sigh of relief; take a small step towards life as we previously knew it; and commence the healing that is undoubtedly required after experiencing the multifaceted traumas of COVID-19.
It's natural to feel self-conscious or dissatisfied with certain aspects of our appearance from time to time. It's important, however, to ensure that such days don't lead to a setback in your eating disorder recovery. Here are 5 ways to battle poor body-image days. 1️⃣ Practice Self-Compassion: Speak to yourself the way that you would a friend in your position. Valid that difficult feelings that you're experiencing with kindness and understanding. Offer non-judgmental support and soothing in response to the difficulty that you're encountering. 2️⃣ Challenge Unrealistic Beauty Standards: Remember that the images that we see in the media are not real - they're heavily edited and curated. Embrace the beauty of diversity and recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all definition of beauty. Celebrate your unique features and the qualities that make you who you are. 3️⃣ Practice Self-Care: Engage in activities that nurture you and make you feel care for unconditionally. Take care of yourself by engaging in activities that you enjoy, practicing self-care, and using emotion-regulation techniques. 4️⃣ Cultivate Gratitude: Take a moment each day to appreciate and express gratitude for the incredible things your body does for you. Focus on the amazing capabilities and experiences you've had rather than solely on your appearance. Shift your mindset to one of gratitude and appreciation for the vessel that carries you through life. 5️⃣ Limit Social Media Exposure: While social media can be a great way to connect with others, it can also be a source of comparison and negative self-perception. Be mindful of the accounts you follow and consider taking breaks from social media when needed. Remember that everyone's journey is unique, and comparison only hinders your own progress. If negative body image persists and begins to affect your overall well-being, consider seeking support from a specialist mental health professional who can provide you with valuable tools and coping strategies and support your journey towards self-acceptance.
Body Mass Index (BMI) has been regarded as a standard for measuring an individual's body composition and assessing health risks. However, it has become increasingly evident that BMI is not only flawed but also carries inherent racial bias. BMI was developed in the early 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician. Originally intended as a tool for population studies, it was never intended to measure individual health. Over time, however, BMI has became the standard measure for assessing and responding to health risks. This system has created indescribable stigma, bias, and discrimination. In honor of BIPOC Mental Heath Awareness Month, however, we felt it especially important to highlight the injustices that the BMI system has imposes upon minorities populations such as BIPOC folk. BMI classifications are based predominantly on white populations, with little-to-no recognition of the diverse body types and/or genetic variations that occur (especially) among non-white folk. This inherent racial bias highlights the urgent need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to health.