Eating Disorders

Some of us may struggle with our weight or bodies, experience cravings, or comfort eat, but people with eating disorders become so worried about their diet and body they are unable to think about anything else. This affects other areas of their life, like relationships with family, friends and work. It will usually prevent them from making healthy decisions about their physical health too. People often think that eating disorders just affect women but men can suffer from them also.

There are several different behaviours associated with eating disorders:

• Some people restrict their diet, giving themselves strict rules for what they can and can’t eat, when, and in what quantities.
• Other people ‘purge’ their food, by vomiting, abusing laxatives or excessively exercising.
• Some people ‘binge eat’ which is when they eat large amounts of food without being able to control themselves.
• Many people with eating disorders will carry out a combination of these at once or over time. There is also a high proportion of people with eating disorders who have other mental health diagnoses.

How do eating disorders affect people’s lives?

People with eating disorders can also feel anxious a lot of the time due to the presence of food, or their perceived failure to live up to their own strict rules or standards. They can also become very isolated, as they avoid social situations which involve food and drink. These feelings of isolation can trigger, or make worse, feelings of loneliness and low self-confidence. This can lead to suicidal feelings.

People’s physical health is also usually affected. Eating too much, not enough or purging food can leave them feeling tired, sick, or dizzy. They may get headaches, stomach aches and their teeth and skin can become damaged. They may also be unable to think properly or manage their moods.

How can I help someone with an eating disorder?

Learn about eating problems

There are lots of resources online that you can use to find out about eating problems. They may help you to understand what your friend or family member is going through and help you to feel more confident in offering support. Try starting with the Beat, Mind or Rethink Mental Illness websites.

Acknowledge how they feel

Struggling with something that everyone else seems to find normal and easy can be very lonely. Many people who struggle with their eating will feel intense shame about the things they’ve been doing. You don’t have to understand why they are feeling the way they do, but letting them know that you understand it is hard, and that you are still there for them and don’t judge them, can be a huge relief for them to hear.

Information obtained from Time to change with their kind permission, for further reading please visit their website www.time-to-change.org.uk