There are three types of eating disorder:
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating.
Eating disorders are a way of coping with feelings that are making you feel unhappy. An eating disorder is a sign that you need help in coping with life and sorting out personal problems.
How do you tell if someone has an eating disorder?
It can be difficult to recognise if someone has an eating disorder. There are a few tell-tale sings that may suggest there is a problem.
- Regularly skipping meals
- Excessively counting calories
- Keen interest in buying and cooking food for others
- Wearing loose clothes to hide weight loss
- An obsession with exercising
- Dramatic weight loss or gain
- Disappearing from the table directly after meals (to make themselves sick)
- Saying that they are unhappy with their body
Where can you get help?
Family and friends can do a lot to support someone with an eating disorder. A sympathetic GP will also be able to direct you to more specialist help. If you are worried about someone with an eating disorder then you can text the Eating Disorders Association 07 977 493 345 (standard text rates) or you can phone the EDA Youthline 0045 634 7650 or email talkback@edauk.com
