We all have our unique eating habits. One day you might eat loads and the next you might not be as hungry. There may be times when you swing between wanting to eat healthier or just indulging a bit. That’s completely normal.
But sometimes the way we feel about food and eating can become overwhelming and cause anxiety or stress. Here are some signs that you might be suffering from an eating problem:
Eating problems are more common than you might think. They can affect anyone, no matter your body shape, lifestyle, gender, culture, age, or ethnicity. And it’s not just girls who can be affected – studies say about 25% of people dealing with an eating disorder are male.
Instagram artwork by @allbodiesart. On top of a light green square it reads in capitals: 'My body is good', with a list in lower case describing how your body is good regardless of your doubts.
Lots of things can trigger eating problems, but here are a few possible causes:
Here are some possible symptoms of eating problems:
You might think you know what an eating disorder looks like, but everyone gets different symptoms and your weight or appearance don’t always define the problem. If you’re struggling with any of these symptoms, speak to someone you trust or contact a helpline.
Being around unfamiliar foods and eating dinner daily with my extended family, most of whom I had never met before, was very difficult. As I have lived in London my whole life, and am no longer fluent in my mother tongue, I felt disconnected from the traditional Gujarati culture and attitudes. In India, having an eating disorder was another thing that made me feel even more alien.
If you’ve been struggling with eating and food for a while and it’s impacting your day-to-day life, a doctor might diagnose you with an eating disorder. We’ve got information for you about some common eating disorders below.
People with anorexia nervosa (sometimes just called anorexia) try to keep their weight down by eating very little, exercising too much, or both. They often have “rules” about what, when or where they eat. They might think they’re larger than they actually are and worry about gaining weight.
When I finished school, I started university and held down three part-time jobs on the side. Life was good. But I was oblivious to what everyone else saw; I was kidding myself. I was diagnosed with anorexia and it became clear that it was well and truly taking over. It was ruining me physically and mentally. I had a very difficult relationship with food and I was very depressed, but still I tried to carry on as if I were fine.
ARFID stands for ‘avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder’. It used to be called a selective eating disorder. People with ARFID avoid certain foods or types of food. Or they limit how much food they eat. Unlike anorexia, people with ARFID don’t necessarily do this to lose weight.
Some common reasons people with ARFID limit their food intake are:
People with bulimia get into a cycle of “binge-eating” (over-eating) and “purging” (trying to control your weight by making yourself sick, using laxatives, or over-exercising).
Lots of us eat a bit more than usual sometimes, but bingeing is different. It’s often very distressing, uncontrollable, and can involve eating things you’d usually avoid. It’s also often followed by a desire to purge, and people can get trapped in a cycle of bingeing and purging.
People tend to binge as a way of dealing with difficult emotions. If life is getting a bit much and you’re feeling out of control, purging can feel like a way of getting back on top of things. But bulimia can seriously damage your body, so reaching out for help is crucial.
Binge-eating disorder is a condition where people regularly and uncontrollably eat loads of food really quickly. They feel like they can’t stop eating and can do this even when they’re not hungry. It’s common for people to feel embarrassed or ashamed afterwards.
Sometimes these binges can come out of the blue, but other times they’re planned, like if the person buys particular foods. Some people go to extreme lengths to get food, like eating food that’s been thrown away or isn’t theirs.
Unlike bulimia, people with binge-eating disorder don’t usually “purge” afterwards. This means they don’t try to get rid of the food in their body.
OSFED is a term for lots of different eating disorders. It stands for ‘other specified feeding or eating disorder’. If you’re having problems eating but your symptoms don’t neatly fit with the symptoms of anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder, you’ll likely be diagnosed with OSFED.
Here are some typical examples of OSFED:
Pica is an eating disorder where you can’t stop yourself from eating things that aren’t food and have no nutritional value, like soap, chalk or dirt. Most people with pica eat regular food too.
Some eating problems can become serious mental health conditions that need professional help to diagnose and treat. In very serious cases, and without the right kind of support and treatment, they can cause death. If you’re struggling with eating, speak to someone. Remember that struggling with food or your eating is never your fault and you deserve to get better.
The best way to recover from an eating problem is to get support as early as possible. Here are some steps you can take to get better.
If you think you might have an eating disorder, talk to someone. This can be tough, but lots of young people with eating disorders tell us that talking about it was the first step on their road to recovery.
Rebuilding your relationship with food will be hard, but your doctor can help you get the support you need. One option is talking therapy – this is when you talk to a trained professional who can help you figure out and deal with the root of the problem.
Bear in mind that the doctor might want to measure your weight. It’s okay to be nervous about this but remember they’re not going to judge you – they’re only doing it to help. You can request to not see or be told your current weight if that information makes things difficult for you.
Reaching out and asking for help was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but with support from BEAT and my family I was diagnosed with an eating disorder and referred for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). I learnt a lot and wanted to share these things in the hope that it might help someone else who’s struggling like I was.
Sharing your experiences with others can help you feel less alone and encourage you to get better.
The Nest is a welcoming online space for anyone who has, or thinks they have, an eating disorder. It’s run by staff from the eating disorder charity Beat and is a confidential and safe space to share your experiences with other people in similar situations.
Sessions run every Tuesday from 6.45-7.45pm and you can attend as often or as little as you like.
Some social media accounts make eating problems seem cool or glamorous. This isn’t helpful for your recovery and can be really damaging. It’s tough, but consider swapping these accounts with more positive ones.
Avoid apps, accounts or websites that contribute to your negative body image and your relationship with eating.
My eating disorder felt deeply ingrained in my life and intertwined with who I was, and I believed I would be nothing without it. Fortunately, I found help outside traditional care routes through online services, a local LGBT charity, and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). Alongside this, I taught myself to cook, which was vital in changing how I viewed food. The voice slowly became quieter.
Every eating disorder is different, and not everybody experiences the same symptoms and experiences, so whatever your experience is, please know that it’s valid. You should always listen to advice from any medical professionals or specialists as they are trained to help and support you in the best way possible.
Hope Virgo found it hard to express her emotions from a young age. As a teenager, she started eating less and less, until a point came where her heart was close to failing and she was admitted to hospital to be treated for anorexia.
Watch Hope tell her story in her own words.
Remember, if you’re worried about someone, it’s not all on you to fix it and you don’t have to keep it a secret. If they don’t get the help they need, things can get much worse very quickly. Telling someone you trust is crucial – the quicker your friend gets support, the more likely they are to recover.
Remember that by telling an adult that you think there might be a problem, you are not being a bad friend – in fact, you are being the best friend you could possibly be by helping them and spotting the signs of a relapse early before it spirals out of control. Even if your friend does not see you helping them as a good thing immediately, I promise when they begin to recover they will really appreciate it.
If you're not sure where to turn to for support right now, try one of these services.
Offers information and support for anybody affected by eating disorders.
One-to-one web chat available. They also run a range of online support groups, which are all fully moderated and anonymous.
Enter your postcode in the HelpFinder to see what eating disorder support is available in your area.
View their information on helpline accessibility and confidentiality.
Free, short-term online counselling for young people aged 25 or under. Their website also provides lots of information and advice about mental health and wellbeing.
Email support is available via their online contact form.
They have a free 1-2-1 webchat service available during opening hours.
Provides information about local counselling and advice services for young people aged 11-25.
Put in your location and what you need help with into their 'Find help' search, and see what services are available in your area.
If you’re under 19 you can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small.
Sign up for a free Childline locker (real name or email address not needed) to use their free 1-2-1 counsellor chat and email support service.
Can provide a BSL interpreter if you are deaf or hearing-impaired.
Hosts online message boards where you can share your experiences, have fun and get support from other young people in similar situations.
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