Eating disorders

An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you have an unhealthy attitude towards food.

It can involve:

• eating too much
• eating too little
• becoming obsessed with your weight and body shape
• other unhealthy food behaviours such as vomiting, over-exercise or use of medicines to control your weight

There are treatments that can help. You can recover from an eating disorder.

Men and women of any age can get an eating disorder. It usually develops first in the teenage years.

Types of eating disorders

The most common eating disorders are:

• anorexia nervosa
• bulimia nervosa
• binge eating disorder (BED)
• avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
• other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

How to know if you have an eating disorder

If you have an unhealthy relationship with food that's affecting your eating habits, this could be a sign of an eating disorder.

Symptoms of eating disorders include:

• spending a lot of time worrying about your weight and body shape
• avoiding socialising that involves food
• eating very little food
• losing control over your eating
• making yourself sick or taking laxatives after you eat
• exercising too much
• having very strict habits or routines around food
• changes in your mood

You may also notice physical signs, including:

• feeling cold, tired or dizzy
• problems with your digestion
• loss of sexual interest
• problems with your teeth
• brittle hair and nails
• problems sleeping
• your weight being very high or very low for someone of your age and height
• stopped or missed periods

Warning signs of an eating disorder in someone else

It's difficult to tell if someone close to you has an eating disorder.

Warning signs to look out for include:

• dramatic weight loss
• lying about how much and when they've eaten, or how much they weigh
• eating a lot of food very fast
• going to the bathroom a lot after eating, often returning looking flushed
• exercising too much
• avoiding eating with others
• cutting food into small pieces or eating very slowly
• wearing loose or baggy clothes to hide their weight loss

Warning signs in a child or young person

Signs your child may have an eating disorder include:

• a change in eating pattern
• cutting out fun foods such as sweets and treats
• eating smaller portions
• distress and upset at meal times
• avoiding meal times
• unusual eating behaviours such as cutting food into small pieces
• spending extra time looking at food and counting calories
• too much exercise
• spending a long time in bathroom after meals
• becoming withdrawn and irritable
• worrying too much about body shape and weight
• noticeable weight loss

Getting help for an eating disorder

If you think you may have an eating disorder, see your GP as soon as you can.

Your GP will ask you questions about your eating habits and how you're feeling. They will also do a full health check. This will include measuring your weight and height, as well as taking your blood pressure and pulse rate. It may also include blood tests.

If you have an eating disorder, your GP will refer you to an eating disorder specialist.

It's hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment.

Getting help for someone else

Someone with an eating disorder might be secretive and defensive about eating and weight.

It can be difficult to know what to do if you're concerned for them.

Let them know you're worried about them and encourage them to see their GP. You could offer to go along with them.

Bodywhys provides resources, guidance, and training for anyone caring for a loved-one with an ED.

Supporting someone with an eating disorder - bodywhys.ie

Treatment for eating disorders

You can recover from an eating disorder with treatment, but it may take time. Recovery will be different for everyone.

Support from family members can be very helpful for most people with eating disorders.

The specialist will talk to you about any support you might need and include this in your treatment plan.

Treatment depends on the type of eating disorder you have.

It will usually involve some kind of talk therapy, as well as support from a:

• nutrition specialist (dietitian)
• occupational therapist
• social worker

You may need regular health checks if it is having an impact on your physical health.

Guided self-help programmes can help with bulimia and binge eating.

Most people have 1-to-1 therapy, but group therapy may also be an option.

Talk therapy

Who is at risk

You may be more more likely to get an eating disorder if :

• you are dieting a lot
• you are very unhappy with your body
• some one in your family has a history of an eating disorder
• you are a worrier, a perfectionist or are very critical of your self
• you experience social or cultural pressure about eating habits, body shape, or weight
• you have a job or hobby that focuses on body image such as ballet, gymnastics, modelling or athletics
• you experienced trauma, especially in childhood
• you have a health condition such as diabetes

Eating disorders can also happen at times of big change such as:

• puberty
• starting secondary school or college
• starting a new job
• times of loss or bereavement

More support

The following organisations provide information and support about eating disorders:

• for adults - Bodywhys
• for children and young people - Spunout

You can also find more support, including a self-help app, from the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCPED).