Help Worried about an eating disorder?
Problems with eating can be complex and there is no one single cause of eating disorders. They are not the same as changing your diet and worrying about the way you look. They can take over your life and the lives of your family and the people around you. Eating disorders are not just about food – they can be a way of coping or feeling in control. Eating disorders are serious and everyone who has one deserves care and support.
People with eating disorders are often secretive about their eating and may feel guilty and ashamed. They may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food, which can affect them in many ways. These are the main types of eating disorder: Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder.
Everyone is different and so eating disorders can differ from person to person, too. It can take time to be officially diagnosed but you don’t have to wait for a diagnosis to seek help and get support – any level of concern or worry about your eating is valid. There are common signs and the good news is that recovery is possible and the sooner someone gets treatment the more likely they are to manage their eating better.
What might help?
Helping yourself
If you are worried you have a problem with eating there are things you can do to help yourself.
- Stick to regular meal times: make sure you have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Start with smaller portions until you get used to eating frequently. Ask loved ones to help you stick to this.
- Try to be honest about what you are or are not eating to yourself and other people.
- If you lose more weight you are likely to feel more anxious and depressed. Try to be kind to your body; look after it and don’t punish it.
- Think about how you feel and think before, during and after eating. When are you feeling better or worse?
- Get your weight and height checked with a health professional, for example a school nurse, practice nurse or GP. They will be able to work out whether you are in your ‘healthy weight range’. You can ask your GP or school nurse about this.
- Try not to spend time checking your body, looking at yourself in the mirror or constantly weighing yourself. Nobody is perfect.
- Try to avoid excessive exercise – check in how you are feeling and using exercise when doing it. It can be really good for mental health but can also be damaging
- Stay close to your family and friends. They can help you, and help you to avoid unhelpful websites that encourage you to lose weight and stay very thin.
- Family members and loved ones can help you regain healthy control over food and thoughts of food, to regain freedom rather than just focusing on physical symptoms.
Supporting someone else
Are you worried someone you know may have an eating disorder? It’s hard to know what to look out for. Have a look at the list of common signs of an eating disorder from BEAT.
If you’re worried that someone you care about is showing signs of an eating disorder act quickly and speak to someone you trust. Don’t delay. Getting help quickly is really important.
Further help and information
If you think you need speak to speak to someone about worries with food or eating or need to find support that suits you, the first step is to talk to someone you trust… and try to do it soon. This is probably easier said than done! Find out more about starting difficult conversations. The services below could support you also.
Support in Leeds
Find out what support services are available for young people in Leeds, from help at school to local drop-in centres.
Support in Leeds
Beat
UK eating disorder charity which can help you work out if you may have an eating disorder and offers support.
Beat
MindMate blog
Read Abi first hand account of treatment for her eating disorder during her teens and what helped her recovery.
Go to Abi's blogLeeds CYP Eating disorder service
If you think you need specialist help with food and eating you may need to get an appointment with a specialist team.
How to get an appointment with the specialist team
Leeds Children and Young Peoples Eating Disorder Service works with children and young people under 18 who may have a range of eating problems.
Referral is through Leeds MindMate Single Point of Access (SPA). You will need to get a health professional (e.g. GP) to refer you to the SPA. Once the team has your referral details they will make a decision about whether your referral needs to be seen urgently (within 5 working days) or routinely (within 4 weeks). You will be seen quickly, though.
You will be contacted by telephone and/or letter to be offered a date for an appointment.
Are you a parent or carer?
If you’re looking for more information to support a young person you care for with their mental health, visit our parent and carers page.
