Eating Disorders

When people have problems with how much they eat or the way that they eat it is called an eating disorder. The most common eating disorders are:

• anorexia - eating too little food, starving yourself, extreme diets
• bulimia - deliberately vomiting, taking laxatives to get rid of food eaten
• binge eating - eating large amounts of food over a short time

Young people of all ages and every background can suffer from an eating disorder, young men as well as young women.

Crucial: Worried about your eating? Call the B-eat Youthline on 08456 341414 Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm

What causes eating disorders?

Eating disorders usually start when a person is stressed. Controlling how much or when you eat is a way to cope with this stress. Some sorts of stress are more likely to cause eating problems:

• Feelings that are hard to accept, e.g. about sex or growing up
• Long-term problems in your home or school life
• Feeling out of control or trapped

Not eating or eating too much when you're stressed and unhappy is normal behaviour. But getting into the habit of controlling how you eat to control stress is very dangerous. Eating problems quickly become a habit that is very hard to break. They can continue long after the original stress or problem has gone away or been solved.

• Key link: www.b-eat.co.uk

Types of eating disorder

There are some common symptoms, but not all will apply to all people.

	PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS	BEHAVIOURS
Anorexia	Severe weight loss Periods stopping Hormonal changes in boys Difficulty sleeping Dizziness Stomach pains Constipation	Wanting to be left alone Wearing baggy clothes Excessive exercising Refusing food, hiding food Lying about eating meals Denying there is a problem Difficulty concentrating
Bulimia	Sore throat/swollen glands Stomach pains Mouth infections Irregular periods Dry or poor skin Difficulty sleeping Sensitive or damaged teeth	Eating large quantities of food Not being able to stop eating Being sick after eating Being secretive Feeling ashamed and guilty Feeling out of control
Binge Eating	Mood swings Weight gain	Eating large quantities of food Eating inappropriate food Being secretive

Many people with eating disorders try to hide their problem, or refuse to admit that they have a problem. You might feel guilty, ashamed, or that the problem is not that bad. But it can be very difficult to get better without help.

Getting better

Eating disorders can cause long-term health problems, including loss of fertility, tooth decay and brittle bones. But they can also be beaten, and you can recover completely. The first step is to admit there is a problem and ask for help:

• Get advice from the B-eat helpline, your local youth worker or school nurse, or Bodyzone
• Talk to your your GP (Doctor), or the practice nurse

What happens next will vary, because different people need different sorts of help and support. You may need to see a counsellor, or a specialist organisation. There are books and courses which can help, including some you can do online. If one sort of help isn't working, ask about others. There are lots of different ways to get better.

• Key Link: www.b-eat.co.uk