We Need to Talk About Chewing and Spitting

Chewing and spitting (C and S) is a shameful secret sadly suffered by many people with eating disorders. As the name suggests, you chew your food, then spit it out – the aim being to enjoy the taste without the calorie cost, as food is not swallowed. Forbidden foods are the preferential choice, as the behaviour is rooted in restrictive eating behaviour. C and S does not discriminate and can be seen across all eating disorder diagnoses. It’s a tricky topic to talk about but it’s a topic that I feel needs a conversation and awareness. Increasing numbers of clients mention this behaviour and desperate queries slip into my DMs, as people ask for information about stopping and query whether they are alone in their struggles. In this episode, I talk about the costs of chewing and spitting and some first steps towards stopping this behaviour. I hope you find this helpful.

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