Appetite For Change

09/04/2025

SHiNE - Supporting Healthful Initiatives in Nutrition Education
I am thrilled to announce success in securing over $990,000 through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) 2024 MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative.

Hosted by Western Sydney University, this project is led by myself (A/Prof Gabriella Heruc) and supported by a dedicated team of researchers, including Chief Investigators Dr. Catharine Fleming, Dr. Sarah Kennedy, Dr Lyza Norton, and Dr. Kirrilly Pursey, in collaboration with an incredible group of associate investigators and partner organisations.

The project aims to shine a light on nutrition messaging in schools. Utilising knowledge translation and co-design principles, the project is set to develop urgently needed world-first guidelines on safe nutrition messaging for schools. Working in partnership with teachers, parents and young people, the project will deliver positive nutrition messages to support the wellbeing of young people.
Deb Mitchison, Tracy Burrows, Tetyana Rocks, Zali Yager, Deana Leahy, Robert Gorkin, Kylie Burton, Julia Rossi, Alexi Cross, A/Prof Megan Warin
The University of Newcastle, Australia
Dietitians Australia
ACHPER Australia
The Embrace Collective
National Eating Disorders Collaboration
EDFA Eating Disorders Families Australia
Nutrition Australia
Healthy Harold

14/10/2024

A big thank you to Jennifer Luu and the team at the Feed at Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia for interviewing me for this story about Tom’s selective eating.

Fussy or selective eating is something that many young people experience, and many grow out of it. But when it starts interfering with growth and nutrition or socially with everyday life and if it’s causing significant worry and anxiety, it may become a condition called ARFID - Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

If you think you need help, speak to your GP, or find a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician on the connect.ed ‘Find Eating Disorder Help’ directory: www.connected.anzaed.org.au

Trying new foods can be an anxiety-inducing ordeal for selective eaters. For some, it can turn into a serious condition with life-threatening consequences, known as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

25/03/2024

🗓 GPs, mark your calendars for this Wednesday 27 March!

We're hosting an essential information webinar from 12:00 to 12:30 PM AEDT that you won't want to miss. This session is a golden opportunity for GPs to learn about the new ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential.

The Credential provides GPs with formal recognition of qualifications, knowledge, training, and professional development activities needed to meet minimum standards for the delivery of safe and effective eating disorder care.

👉 Register here for our information webinar: http://tinyurl.com/webinarGPs

📆 Date: 27 March 2024
⏰ Time: 12-12.30pm AEDT

Help us bridge the gap between those in need and the care they deserve!

29/02/2024

This morning in Canberra, the Butterfly Foundation launched the Paying the Price Report 2024. With significant bipartisan support, MPs from across the floor passionately agreed on the need for increased attention, funding and understanding of eating disorders.

The economic and social costs of eating disorders have grown by 36% since 2012 to $67 billion.

But less than a third of those with eating disorders seek help.

We know this is partly because they don’t know where to go.

The ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential can help improve access to care. By ensuring clinicians have the right qualifications and training – the Credential can help people find the right care at the right time. https://connected.anzaed.org.au/

11/01/2024

Great to see this important research and issue being highlighted in the Guardian today.
Weight loss products can be very dangerous for young people.
I’m hopeful that work like this can bring about change and help prevent more young people from developing disordered eating.

Young people vulnerable to body-image pressure face aggressive marketing via advertising and influencers, researchers say

06/04/2023

Such an important cause - please consider signing if you are in support!

We need your voice!

Eating disorders are a national crisis in Australia - one million Australians suffer from eating disorders and 1 in 4 adolescents experience disordered eating each year.

There is hope. Recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Early intervention has proven to establish better treatment outcomes.

Two of EDFA’s members have designed an e-petition directed to the Federal House of Representatives.

HOW YOU CAN HELP...

Please “e-sign” the below petition to the House of Representatives in Canberra (Petition ) https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN4972 to request:

1) Increased funding
2) Timely implementation of the impending National Eating Disorders Strategy (ETA 2nd half 2023)
3) Reduction of out-of-pocket costs for ED patients/carers.

Please “share” the link to your family/friends/social network for them to e-sign.

Your voice and numbers matter.

SOME DETAILS...

WHO? Any resident or citizen can sign (you do not need to be someone experiencing an ED or a carer; you do not need to be 18yrs+).
WHEN? The e-Petition is available for e-signature ONLY UNTIL 25 APRIL.
WHAT? The e-Petition link above explains the specific request and rationale.
WHERE? Once the 4wk e-signing period is complete, the Petition will be presented in the House in Canberra. Zoe Daniel, Independent Federal MP has agreed to present the Petition. The multi-party “Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness” Co-chairs (MPs: Zoe Daniel-Indep, Andrew Wallace-Liberal, Susan Templeman-Labor) are also helping to drive awareness of the resource need.
WHY? Petitions are typically referred to a Minister, who is asked to provide a response w/in 90 days. Thus, petitions get formal recognition via presentation in Parliament, and a written response.

EDFA supports this petition.

Zoe Daniel Susan Templeman MP Andrew Wallace - LNP Federal Member for Fisher

21/02/2023

Such a disturbing increase in eating disorders. If you or someone you know needs help, make sure you find and connect with a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, like the dietitians at Appetite for Change.
http://appetiteforchange.com.au

14/02/2023

Fascinating legal case on the mental health effects of social media in kids. What are your thoughts?

READING LEVEL: RED

13/01/2023

What do we need to put in place to support people experiencing an eating disorder?

Have your say on a National Eating Disorders Strategy 2023-2033 by completing the National Eating Disorders Collaboration public survey. Your voice will contribute to improving the system of care for all Australians experiencing an eating disorder.

👉Click here bit.ly/NEDC-Survey to have your say to have your say
👉Learn more here bit.ly/NEDC-NationalStrategy
🔔Please share this post and help spread the word about the survey

02/01/2023

The team at Appetite for Change wishes you a safe and enjoyable New Year. Although this can be a challenging time for some, it can be a great time to make a change. For a dietitian appointment, reach out to us for support and organise a time to catch up via http://appetiteforchange.com.au/contact or give us a call on 0499 013 075.

Appetite for Change is a Sydney-based Dietetic Practice seeing clients in person in Crows Nest and v

21/12/2022

As we head into the holiday season, it’s important to be mindful about the friends and family around us and what they might be going through. Eating Disorders Families Australia offer some really helpful advice in the interview below.
If you are looking for dietetic support over the holidays, please contact us at:

http://appetiteforchange.com.au/contact

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday period.
From the team at Appetite for Change.

Disordered eating can be heightened during the food-focused holiday period, so how can you help friends and relatives with eating disorders this Christmas?

22/08/2022

Very grateful to have been part of the development of the newly published NEDC guideline on the Management of Eating Disorders for people with a higher weight.

A warm thanks to our wonderful attendees for making NEDC's launch of Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline such a success. A recording will be available next week. Find the Guideline and resources at bit.ly/NEDC-Guideline