Help with eating disorders
Wednesday 13 October 2004
Ever wondered what you'd do if you found out your mate had an eating problem?
The Eating Disorder Association has recently released a new guide which details all the facts on eating disorders and how to help a friend you think has an eating disorder.
These booklets are now available free of charge and can be ordered by sending a request to talkback@edauk.com or calling the Eating Disorder helpline on 0845 634 7650 (which is open weekdays from 4pm to 6.30pm).
Eating is something we all take for granted - school dinners, picnics, a meal with family or friends.
But for some people eating can become a source of real distress and worries about how much or how little they are eating can take over their lives.
It's a way of masking other feelings that may cause even deeper distress.
If left to go on for a long period of time, eating disorders can be potentially life threatening because they can prevent the body from getting the nutrients and calories it needs to keep working.
For example, one of the most well known eating disorders is Anorexia Nervosa. This is where someone starts controlling what they eat, eating less and less until they become very thin and ill. This is often a way for a person to try and deal with complex emotions or distressing experiences.
Bulimia Nervosa is where a person eats large amounts of food and then makes themselves throw up in an attempt to compensate for their 'binge' eating.
The reasons why people develop eating disorders are complex and differ from person to person. However, the following could be linked to eating disorders:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship problems with your boyfriend, girlfriend, family or friends.
- Physical or sexual abuse
Eating disorders could also be made worse by images of supposedly 'perfect' body shapes and sizes in the media, on film, TV and in magazines.
All eating disorders need professional help, so don't hide away if you think you have a problem. Some disorders can seriously affect your health, and you need to tell someone about it.
Try talking to someone you trust like your friends or a cousin you get on well with. If you can build up the courage to do it, try and talk to your GP. They're professionals who won't judge you and will keep everything you talk about confidential.
Take a look at our links for details of where to get confidential advice or information on eating disorders.
