EATING DISORDERS

Information for parents and carers.

What is an eating disorder?
 A lot of young people want to be thinner, whether or not they are actually overweight.  Sometimes worries about weight can become an obsession and the young person may develop an eating disorder.  The two main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.  People with anorexia nervosa worry all the time about becoming fat, and become obsessive about maintaining or reducing their body weight through rigid control of their calorie intake.  They often have a very distorted perception of how they look, and feel the need to continue to lose weight until they are so thin that their health is at risk. 

People with bulimia nervosa are unable to maintain “normal” eating patterns.  They have binges when they gorge themselves on food.  This leads to a state of panic and the need to get rid of the food they have just eaten.  They vomit or take laxatives to get rid of the food.  Other bulimics may take diuretics, have a period of excessive fasting or exercise excessively.

Other types of eaten disorders are now being recognised.  This includes binge eating disorder, in which a person will binge on an excessive amount of food, as in bulimia nervosa, but without the following purging.  For more information on these, see the resource list at the end.

How can I recognise if someone has an eating disorder?

The following can be signs that someone is suffering from an eating disorder.

Weight loss or unusual weight changes

In girls, periods stopping or being irregular

Missing meals, eating very little and avoiding “fattening” foods.

Avoiding eating in public and secret eating, large amounts of food going missing

Claiming to have eaten already when food is offered

Exercising excessively

Becoming preoccupied with food

Going to the bathroom or toilet immediately after eating

Becoming withdrawn or anxious in social situations, or being excessively tired or run down.

What causes an eating disorder?

      There is not a clear answer to this question.  A number of risk factors can develop the likelihood that a young person will develop an eating disorder. Females are more likely to develop an eating disorder than males, as are those with low self-esteem and those who have previously been overweight.  Anorexia generally affects younger girls than bulimia.  Worries about weight and getting fat increase the likelihood a young person will start dieting or missing meals. This can lead to craving for food, loss of control over food and over-eating. 

Sometimes this can lead to full blown eating disorder.  For example, an upsetting event such as family breakdown, bereavement or loss, bullying, stress about exams, could trigger it.  The family environment can be a risk factor.  If either parent (especially the mother) models dieting behaviour or is unusually preoccupied with body shape and eating, or if either parent or close friend is overly critical of the young persons body shape or eating behaviour, this can trigger an eating disorder.  Families of people with eating disorders tend to be unusually close and over-protective.

 

If you are worried that a young person may develop an eating disorder it is worth trying to talk to them about their worries.  They may admit they are worried about their appearance and weight, but it is also quite common for someone with an eating disorder to deny there is a problem and refuse to talk about it.  They do not want anyone to interfere and this should be respected.  Pressure may make matters worse.  However there are some things you can do to help them gain control over their eating and weight.  The following are useful suggestions to help young people maintain a healthy weight and avoid eating disorders.

eat regular meals- breakfast, lunch and dinner

try to eat a balanced diet

include carbohydrates such as bread, rice, pasta or cereals with
every meal

don’t miss meals

avoid sugary or high-fat foods; however don’t make any food totally ‘forbidden’

take regular exercise

When is professional help needed?

      If eating problems are beginning to disrupt normal life and make meals difficult it is important to get professional advice.  The first stage is to talk to your family doctor (GP).  Although your doctor will probably not be an expert in eating disorders, they will be able to assess any physical damage caused by an eating disorder, and will be able to advise you about specialist help available locally.  If symptoms are new or not too severe, the young person may be able to talk to an experienced counsellor or dietician.  However if problems are more severe or long-standing, the GP can refer the young person for more specialist advice from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health team, which usually includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses and social workers.

 

Resource List – for further information.

 

The Eating Disorders Association – for information and advice.  Youth helpline: 01603 765050
For more details on information leaflets tel: 01603 621414

The YoungMinds Parent information- for information and advice on child mental health issues.  102 – 108 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5SA.  Tel: 0800 018 2138.  www.youngminds.org.uk

 

Overcoming Binge Eating. Dr. Christopher Fairburn.  Guildford Press, New York 1995

 

Mental Health Foundation- for information and advice.  Tel 0207 535 7400  http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

 

 

EATING DISORDERS

[information for professionals][information for parents]