Eating disorders
What are eating disorders?
When a person develops an unhealthy attitude towards food that causes them to drastically change their behaviour and diet, this is known as an eating disorder.
Around 1.6m people in the UK are estimated to be affected by eating disorders. While it is more common for young women to develop eating disorders, people from all genders, backgrounds, ethnic groups and ages can be affected.
There are many forms of eating disorder, but the most common are binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia and anorexia.
- People with BED regularly eat what most people would consider to be unusually large amounts of food in a short time and feel out of control when doing so. This is often called bingeing.
- People with bulimia also binge on food, but they will then get rid of the food they have eaten (sometimes called purging) by making themselves vomit or by using laxatives.
- People with anorexia severely restrict the amount of food they eat, often eating less than they need to stay healthy. They can become very focused on their weight and body shape.
They can have a significant impact on a person’s health and quality of life.
The causes of eating disorders are complicated, but research suggests that our life experiences, our psychological state and our genetics all play a part.
Getting help
The physical effects of eating disorders can be serious so it is important for people affected by them to get help.
The first step towards getting help with an eating disorder is to speak to your GP. Approaching your doctor, either for yourself or someone you care about, can seem like a daunting task. You may feel embarrassed or guilty, or that you’re wasting their time. Don’t let these things put you off talking to your GP and asking for help – that’s what they’re there for.
It’s quite common for a person with an eating disorder to feel that they don’t want or need help, as the condition can seem like it is integral to them as a person. For example, if someone believes they need to lose weight, they may feel that purging helps them to do this, despite the negative effect this may have on their physical and emotional wellbeing. Your doctor will understand this, and it’s ok for you to mention that you feel this way.
Your doctor may use a series of questions to help assess whether or not you are suffering from an eating disorder. It’s important to note that their diagnosis won’t just be based on these questions, and you don’t have to say yes to all of them to be diagnosed with having an eating disorder.
Think about your answers to these questions before you visit your GP – it could help to make the conversation easier:
- Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
- Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
- Have you recently lost more than one stone (6kg) in a 3 month period?
- Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?
- Would you say that food dominates your life?
What happens after you speak to your doctor will depend on your needs. In some cases your GP will treat you themselves, but if they think that you need specialist help, you may be referred to mental health services. You may be referred to a specialist eating disorders service if your GP thinks this is necessary.
Treatments for eating disorders
Everyone experiences eating disorders differently, so treatment is based around each person’s needs. For some people the first step may be to follow a self-help programme, possibly with encouragement and support from a health professional.
There are also different types of talking treatments available for eating disorders depending on your needs. For example, some people benefit from undertaking cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).
CBT is a type of counselling that helps a person to understand and change the way they think and behave. IPT counselling focuses on issues with interpersonal relationships. Both of these forms of therapy can be considered for people who feel ready to start making changes to their eating pattern.
Other forms of therapy are helpful in other circumstances, and these options will be explored collaboratively with you.
Treatment may also involve careful monitoring of your physical health.
People with bulimia or binge eating disorder and those that have problems with other conditions such as depression or anxiety may be prescribed medication, but this is not usually the case with anorexia.