Help with Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you use the control of food to cope or manage your feelings. Examples of unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little, or becoming obsessive with your eating patterns.

Common types of eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The signs and symptoms differ across the types of eating disorders. Anyone can get an eating disorder, but the NHS states that young people between 13 and 17 years old are mostly affected. With treatment, most people can recover from an eating disorder.

There are lots of different things that can cause eating problems or disorders.  Being worried or stressed can affect the way you eat and can become an issue.

Some of examples of eating behaviours that you may be struggling with include:

• Losing appetite
• Eating when not hungry
• Obsessing about your body shape (e.g. being ‘too fat’, or ‘not muscly enough’)
• Eating only certain types of things following fad diets
• Being afraid of gaining weight
• Dramatic weight loss or gain
• Making yourself sick
• No longer enjoying eating socially or leaving the table quickly (to be sick or hide food)
• Being secretive about eating
• Being self-conscious about eating in front of others

If any of the above symptoms are affecting your everyday life, it may be a good idea to talk to someone about how you’re feeling.

For children and young people in Bolton there is a community eating disorder service provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT. If you feel you need some support speak to your GP, School Nurse or Teacher who can refer you to the service.

Beat also have a young person’s helpline which is free for anyone to call on 0808 801 0711