Mental Health Awareness 18-24th May 2020 - Eating Disorders

Mental Health Awareness 18-24th May 2020 - Eating Disorders

by Leanne Kindley -
Number of replies: 0

Mental health awareness week is 18-24th May this year and the theme is Kindness. Over the next few weeks Futureworks will be raising awareness of Mental Health.

Today's post will be focusing on eating disorders, understanding what eating disorders are, what are the symptoms, the different types of eating disorders and how it can affect people differently. These posts are to raise awareness about mental health conditions and for you to gain an understanding of what you or others may be going through.

If you have any questions about these posts or would like to talk to somebody about your own mental health please contact: support@futureworks.ac.uk 

mha

What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses, anyone no matter what of age, gender or background can develop an eating disorder. An eating disorder is a diagnosis given to someone who has unhealthy thoughts, feelings and behaviour about food and their body shape. 
Eating disorders might mean limiting the amount of food eaten, eating very large quantities of food at once, getting rid of food eaten through unhealthy means (e.g. purging, laxative misuse, fasting, or excessive exercise), or a combination of these behaviours. It’s important to remember that eating disorders are not all about food itself, but about feelings. The way the person interacts with food may make them feel more able to cope, or may make them feel in control.


  • Studies suggest that a quarter of people with an eating disorder are male
  • In 2015, 15% of calls to Beat Helpline were about someone aged 40+
  • It's estimated that 6 or 7 of in every 100 people show signs of an eating disorder - although they may not have a diagnosis
  • Eating disorders are not a diet gone wrong or frivolous attempts to look attractive or fashionable. People who struggle with them are dealing with life threatening mental health problems which are often brought on by trauma or severe emotional distress
Symptoms of an Eating Disorder

  • Spending lots of time worrying about your weight or body shape
  • Avoiding socialising when you think food will be involved
  • Eating very little food
  • Eating too much food
  • Deliberately making yourself sick or taking laxatives after you eat
  • Exercising too much
  • Having strict eating habits / routines around food
  • Changes in your mood 
Warning signs to look out for:
  • Dramatic weight loss
  • Lying about how much and when they have 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
  • Excessively or obsessively exercising
  • Avoiding eating with others
  • Cutting food into small pieces or eating very slowly
  • Wearing loose or baggy clothes to hide their weight loss
How to spot the signs of an eating disorder 
Video stories of eating disorders 

The way eating disorders present themselves can be hugely varied from person to person. This means eating disorders can be difficult to identify, and often those suffering can appear healthy despite being unwell. If you think you might be having problems with your eating or feel that difficult feelings or situations are making you change your eating habits or feel differently about food, you could have an eating disorder or be developing one. 

You can read more about eating disorders here. If you’re at all worried about yourself or someone else, it’s always best to seek help as quickly as possible, as this gives the greatest chance of a full recovery.

Eating disorders can be a way of coping with feelings or situations that are making the person unhappy, angry, depressed, stressed, or anxious. They are not the fault of the person suffering, and no one chooses to have an eating disorder.

Do men get eating disorders? 
Eating disorders in men 

Types of Eating Disorders
  • Anorexia (or anorexia nervosa) is a serious mental illness where people are of low weight due to limiting their energy intake (more info on Anorexia here) 
  • Bulimia - People with bulimia are caught in a cycle of eating large quantities of food (called bingeing), and then trying to compensate for that overeating by vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising excessively (called purging). - more info on Bulimia here
  • Binge Eating Disorder - A serious mental illness where people experience a loss of control and eat large quantities of food on a regular basis.
  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) -  A condition characterised by the person avoiding certain foods or types of food, having restricted intake in terms of overall amount eaten, or both
  • Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) - Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are diagnosed according to a list of expected behavioural, psychological, and physical symptoms. Sometimes a person’s symptoms don’t exactly fit the expected symptoms for any of these three specific eating disorders. In that case, they might be diagnosed with an “other specified feeding or eating disorder”. e.g. atypical anorexia, purging disorder, night eating syndrome

How to tell someone you have an eating disorder 
Worried about a friend or family member?
Eating Disorders - A guide for friends / family
Advice for parents  

Talking to a child about eating disorders
Are you worried about a student?
Are you worried about an employee?
Where to get help 
Advice for parents 

What causes Eating Disorders?
Some people believe that eating disorders develop because of social pressures to be thin. Social pressures could be social media and fashion magazines. Others believe is it is a way to feel in control. 
Most specialists believe that eating disorders develop because of a mix of psychological, environmental and genetic factors.

Psychological factors could be:

  • being vulnerable to depression and anxiety
  • finding stress hard to handle
  • worrying a lot about the future
  • being a perfectionist
  • controlling your emotions
  • having obsessive or compulsive feelings, or
  • a fear of being fat

Environmental factors could be:

  • pressure at school
  • bullying
  • abuse
  • criticised for your body shape or eating habits
  • having difficult family relationships
  • having a job or hobby where being thin is seen as ideal. Such as dancing or athletics.

Genetic factors could be:

  • changes in the brain or hormone levels
  • family history of eating disorders, depression or substance misuse.
Treatment for Eating Disorders
There are different psychological treatments for eating disorders. Your doctor should talk to you about different treatments. 
Recovery stories 

Who to contact?

  • Beat 
    Helpline: 0808 801 0677
    Studentline: 0808 801 0811
    Youthline: 0808 801 0711 (Under 18)
Helplines are open 365 days a year from 12pm–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Sometimes our lines are busy. If you can't get through immediately, please do try again or try our one-to-one web chat.

OR you can email:

Adult email support is open to anyone over 18:
help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk 

Studentline email support is open to all students: 
studentline@beateatingdisorders.org.uk 

Youthline email support is open to anyone under 18: 
fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk 

  • Anorexia & Bulimia Care - Supports people affected by eating disorders and their families
    Helpline 03000 11 12 13 (option 1: support line, option 2: family and friends)
  • Youth Access - Advice & Counselling 
  • Young Minds Crisis Messenger provides free 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258
  • Samaritans - Call free on 116 123 (24 hours a day)
  • Childline - If you are under 19 you can confidentially call, email or talk online about any problem you may be having 
    Helpline: 0800 1111 
  • The Mix - If you are under 25 you can contact them free via phone, online chat or email
    Helpline: 0808 808 4994 (1pm-11pm daily)
  • 42nd Street - 0161 228 732. They provide online support and they also do referrals. On their website, it states “if you are struggling with your mental health and would like to speak with a mental health practitioner call us Monday – Friday 9.30-5 and ask to speak to a duty practitioner on 0161 228 7321. 
  • CALM - (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 0800  58 58 58 (5pm-midnight 365 days a year) or online webchat 
  • Shout - Text SHOUT to 85258 (24 hour text service) 
  • SANE emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers. 
    0300 304 7000 (Helpline open 4.30pm-10.30pm).
  • Depression UK 

In crisis? Call 999 if you are in serious distress or in danger of harming yourself or others. Alternatively:

  • Go to A&E at your local hospital. The nearest to Futureworks is Manchester Royal Infirmary (0161 276 4147)
  • Contact your GP / 111
  • Call Samaritans 116 123 (free to call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) 
  • See below for other contact details that maybe beneficial for you, family or friends. 

24/7 mental health helpline for Greater Manchester: 01204 4830

New 24/7 mental health for carers and service users who are currently engaged with the GMMH service - Greater Manchester: 01204 483 071

New 24/7 mental health crisis line for people of all ages in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens & Warrington: 01925 275 309

New 24/7 crisis line for people of all ages in Wigan: 01942 636 395

What other services are local to me? 



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