Personalised support for Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating
Living with an eating disorder in midlife often feels isolating and misunderstood—especially when your concerns about food, weight and body image are dismissed as "just stress" or "too old for an eating disorder." At Urban Wellness, support for eating disorders focuses on gentle, evidence-informed nutrition, weight restoration where needed, and rebuilding a workable relationship with food that respects both your body's needs and the realities of this stage of life.
Learn more about our Eating Disorders Health Package
What can eating disorders feel like in midlife?
Eating disorders in midlife can feel confusing and shameful, often affecting far more than just your relationship with food. You might experience cycles of restriction, overeating or compensatory behaviours that feel exhausting and out of control, alongside deep worry about weight gain, body changes or how you look compared to how you used to look.
Perhaps you had an eating disorder as a teenager and find it rearing its head again now you are at this life stage.
Work, relationships and everyday stresses can start to feel harder to navigate when food takes up so much mental energy—and you may find yourself wondering how you got here, or why these struggles feel new or more intense as you move through perimenopause and menopause.
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Common Symptoms of Eating Disorders in midlife
Eating disorders show up differently in midlife than in younger people, and can be easy to miss or minimise. You may notice:
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Restricting how much you eat, cutting out food groups or "rules" about what you can have
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Cycles of bingeing followed by attempts to compensate (over‑exercise, fasting, purging or other behaviours)
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Feeling out of control with food, especially in evenings, when alone or during stressful periods
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Strong fear of weight gain or distress about your body, especially noticing changes in midlife
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Compulsive tracking, measuring, "earning" food or exercising, even when very tired
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Low body weight, ongoing weight loss, or weight cycling that feels hard on your health
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Missing, irregular or very light periods (if still menstruating), or worsening symptoms around perimenopause
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Fatigue, brain fog, feeling cold, sleep problems, digestive issues and low mood linked to how and when you eat
Some women have struggled with eating difficulties since their teens or twenties; others notice symptoms beginning or intensifying around perimenopause, life upheaval or health worries. You may look "fine" to others while food and your body are consuming all your mental space. Either way, you do not have to carry this alone.
About Irina
I’m Irina Pollastri, a nutritional therapist and member of the Urban Wellness team. My journey into nutritional therapy began not in a classroom, but in my own life. As a teenager, I had a complicated relationship with food and personal experience of an eating disorder, which now feels like a different lifetime. Later, as a mother of three, I experienced a range of persistent health challenges, including digestive symptoms, acid reflux, food intolerances, histamine responses and chronic urticaria.
Nutritional therapy helped me resolve these concerns and strengthened my belief in the body’s capacity to heal when given the right support.
My approach is compassionate, non-judgemental, and practical, with an emphasis on creating a safe space where clients feel truly heard, supported, and empowered in their healing journey.
Alongside my clinical work, I volunteer weekly with Beat Eating Disorders UK, where I support individuals facing challenges with food and body image. Through this role, I am continually reminded of how powerful it is for people to feel truly understood, less isolated in their healing journey, and empowered to access the support they deserve.
How can functional nutrition suppot eating disorders?
Nutrition and functional medicine support for eating disorders is about helping your brain and body get enough consistent fuel to heal, while addressing the thoughts, emotions and life factors underneath. Alongside that, we look to understand any physiological challenges that may be fuelling or compounding your eating disorder, such as hormones, genetics, mould and gut health.
Using a functional medicine lens, support focuses on:
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Understanding current eating patterns, food fears and rules, and how these link to hormones, mood and daily pressures
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Prioritising medical safety, including attention to low body weight, bone health, heart function and menstrual or menopausal changes
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Building towards consistent, balanced eating to support stable blood sugar, mood and clearer thinking about food
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Exploring how perimenopause/menopause, body image and hormonal shifts are influencing your relationship with food
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Understanding your own individual health journey and factors that could be influencing your eating behaviours both emotionally and physiologically
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Aligning nutrition work with any therapy or medical support you are receiving, so your whole care team is moving together
From here, you receive a personalised, evidence-informed plan to help:
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Restore or stabilise weight to a safer range for your body and stage of life
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Improve energy, thinking clarity, mood and sleep so daily life feels more manageable and enjoyable
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Reduce rigid food rules and expand what you eat, so social meals, family gatherings and travel feel less frightening
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Rebuild trust in your body and yourself, even when old thoughts or urges about food still show up
Your journey to a better relationship with food
Discovery Call
Book a free 30-minute discovery call so we can better understand your needs – and you can decide if we are the right fit for you.
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In-depth Assessment
During our first session, we take time to understand your unique health history story, current symptoms and overall wellbeing. We’ll explore key systems that need support and help identify possible root causes for your mental health challenges. At the end, you’ll have your first personalised action steps to start making meaningful progress.
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Personalised programme
Within 48-hours of each session, you’ll receive a personalised plan with clear, achievable steps – covering nutrition, lifestyle, supplement advice (if required) and optional functional testing. We make changes gradually so you’ll never feel overwhelmed, and you can start taking positive action straight away.
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Accountability and on-going support
You’re never alone in your journey. In-between sessions, you can message us with questions or updates – so you feel supported, accountable and confident to make lasting change.
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Follow-up sessions
We’ll meet once a week for 45 minutes per session. Each week we reassess how your week has been and what the focus is for the following week. Step-by-step moving you forward with personalised support.
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Functional testing
Functional testing can be a valuable tool in your health journey, helping us explore underlying factors that may impact your mental wellbeing. We’ll always begin with a thorough assessment before recommending any tests, so you never spend money unnecessarily. Functional testing is optional, and you’ll have the choice to proceed only if, and when, it’s genuinely relevant to your programme.
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Supplements
Supplements can play an important role, especially at the beginning of your journey, by helping to target nutritional gaps and support your progress. Any recommendations will be tailored for you – based on your needs and goals, not a generic protocol. For added value, we offer a 10% discount on all supplements we recommend as part of your plan.
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Ready to transform your relationship with food?
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