Last reviewed on 18 March 2021
Anyone can develop an eating disorder at any age and for many different reasons. For some young people, it’s a way of coping with stress or anxiety. For others, it’s because they are worried about the way they look.
“Living with any eating disorder is difficult, exhausting and painful.” James
“The whole coronavirus pandemic has already been an anxious time for me and I know it has been the same for many struggling with an eating disorder.” Habiba
“... what I found the hardest was the constant lying – the guilt I felt every time I tried to conceal secretive behaviour from my family, my friends and myself.” Emma
If you have an unhealthy relationship with food that is starting to take over your life and is making you ill, it’s important that you get help as soon as you can. In this article, we answer some of the questions you might have and direct you to support organisations, such as Beat.
* The quotes above were taken with kind permission from blogs on the Beat website.
Eating disorders can develop for various reasons. It might happen if you’re:
You can find further information on the Beat website.
There isn’t an eating disorder checklist as everyone is different but you might find that you’re:
For further information, visit the Beat website.
There are various types of eating disorders, including:
You can find more details on the Beat website.
It can be more difficult to recover from an eating disorder on your own so don’t be afraid to ask for help. We recommend that you do the following:
The Beat website contains detailed advice about recovery. You’ll find information about diabulimia on the Diabetes UK website.
If you’re worried that a friend or a loved one might be developing an eating disorder, the warning signs include:
Visit the Beat website for information about how to support someone.
The eating disorder charity Beat has some useful tips to help you find the right words. They include the following reassuring phrases:
As London’s digital mental wellbeing service, Good Thinking provides apps, advice and other resources to help you manage your mental health. This includes:
You’re not alone. Please check out the websites below or call one of the helplines if you need support for an eating disorder.
We’re doing a short, anonymous survey as we’re keen to ensure that our website meets your needs.