Eating Disorders
This is our dedicated page to learn more about how to cope with Eating Disorders. Keep scrolling to discover more...
How Eating Disorders Can Differ
Anorexia Nervosa
What is it: Anorexia is a serious mental illness that can cause individuals to drastically limit how much they eat and drink. They may also do lots of exercise, make themselves sick, or misuse laxatives to get rid of food eaten.
Symptoms: There is a very broad range of behavioural, psychological and physical symptoms associated with Anorexia. These are some of the most common:
- Weight loss
- Stomach or digestive issues
- Distorted perception of body weight or shape and a fear of being fat
- Being untruthful or unwilling to talk about food, eating, their weight or bodies
- Obsessively thinking about, or obsessive-compulsive behaviour around food, exercise or eating habits
- Wearing baggy clothes to hide how much weight they’ve lost, or due to low self esteem
- Using appetite suppressants or laxatives
- Other mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety or OCD
Bulimia Nervosa
What is it: People with bulimia are caught in a cycle of eating large quantities of food (called bingeing) and then trying to compensate for that overeating by vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising excessively (called purging). Binge eating is often a way to cope with difficult emotions; someone may feel driven to binge eat if they’re feeling stressed, upset or angry, for example. During a binge, people with bulimia don’t feel in control of how much or how quickly they’re eating.
Symptoms: There is a very broad range of behavioural, psychological and physical symptoms associated with Bulimia. These are some of the most common:
- Being overly preoccupied with food, dieting, weight loss and body image
- Either frequently checking body shape or weight or avoiding looking at their body or checking their weight
- Purging after bingeing by vomiting, over-exercising, using laxatives or diuretics, fasting
- Organising life around shopping, eating and purging behaviour
- Secrecy, especially about eating
- Disappearing during or soon after eating
- Signs of mental distress such as irritability, mood swings or social withdrawal
- Damage to teeth
- Callused fingers/knuckles
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
What is it: Binge eating disorder is when people eat very large quantities of food without feeling like they’re in control of what they’re doing. Similar to bulimia, except it is not followed by purging behaviours such as vomiting. BED is not about choosing to eat large portions, nor are people who suffer from it just “overindulging”. Far from being enjoyable, binges are very distressing for the individual.
Symptoms: There is a very broad range of behavioural, psychological and physical symptoms associated with Binge Eating Disorder. These are some of the most common:
- Buying and hoarding food
- Eating very quickly, when not hungry or until they’re uncomfortably full
- Sense of being out of control when around food or eating
- Shame, guilt or low self esteem
- Weight gain
- Bloating, constipation, or stomach problems
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
What is it: Other Specified Feeding or Eating disorder refers to any eating disorders that don’t fit into the expected symptoms of other categorized eating disorders. This is very common and they are every bit as serious as other eating disorders.
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Symptoms: There is a very broad range of behavioural, psychological and physical symptoms associated with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders.
These are some of the most common:
- Being overly preoccupied with their weight, food or eating
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Poor body image
- Mood swings or irritability
- Restricting food or eating large amounts of food very quickly
- Social withdrawal
- Other mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety
Orthorexia
What is it: Orthorexia is an unhealthy obsession with eating “pure” foods. Although it is not currently recognized as a separate mental health disorder in a clinical setting, it can still have drastic consequences to someone’s health. Food considered “pure” or “impure” can vary from person to person and is often used to feel in control or to cope with negative thoughts and feelings.
Symptoms:
- Cutting out foods or food groups from their diet, which may progress and change over time.
- Obsession with eating “healthy” foods
- Judgement about the eating habits of others
- Abnormal views on food theories that may be adapted to fit their own beliefs
- Feeling unable to put aside personal rules about what they can and can’t eat,
even if they want to.
- Feelings of anxiety, guilt, or uncleanliness over eating food they regard as
unhealthy.
- Weight loss
- Low energy levels
Our
Top Tips
- Seek professional help: if you think you may be suffering with an eating disorder then your doctor can help you understand the different treatment options available.
- Make a list of things that show you’re a great person.
- Find activities you enjoy, including physical activities. Schedule times to do them.
- Tape a sign on your mirror that says you’re beautiful inside and out.
- Don’t set too many goals at once. You could end up frustrated or disappointed if you don’t meet them. If this happens, don’t give up. Just make a new list of goals that are easier.
- Practice smart eating habits: focus on eating a diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. When you’re hungry, eat what you want. When you’re full, stop.
- Wear clothes you like: don’t try to hide your body under clothing. Choose comfortable outfits that make you feel good.
- Pamper yourself: reward your body and mind with simple activities, like a long bath or strolling through a garden.
- Ask for emotional support: other people want to help you feel better. But you need to trust them first. Start by spending more time with family and friends who make you feel good about yourself. When people give you advice, remember they want what’s best for you.
- Help others: worrying about food and weight takes a lot of time and energy. Use that energy to help others in need. It will make you feel better about yourself and the world.
- Notice your triggers: are there any themes that you notice when you’re eating disorder is playing up?
- Distract yourself: When you find yourself focusing on food or your weight, do something to take your mind off it like going for a walk or talking to a friend.
- Include them in social activities. If they find it difficult to eat, arrange activities which don’t involve food. You could watch a film, play a game or take a walk.
- Encourage them to seek professional help
- Find ways to talk about it: it can be an uncomfortable topic to talk about directly, some people find it helpful to talk about the eating disorder as a third person
- Keep meal times as stress-free as possible. Don't comment on their food
choices. Let them get on with eating the food they feel able to eat.
- Be gentle and patient with them: Remember you can’t force someone to
change their behavior and it may take them a while to accept the problem.
Being forceful or even tricking someone into eating more could cause them to distance themselves from you and even make it worse
- Let them know you are there: Make sure the person knows you’re here to listen and can help them find support. This is one of the most important things you can do. Let them know they can talk to you when they're ready.
- Try not to get angry or frustrated: They might already feel guilty about how their behaviour is affecting you. Try to be as understanding and patient as you can.
- Learn about their disorder: Eating disorders are complex but understanding a bit more about it will help you relate to your friend and let them know that you care
How You Can Help Others
What Does The Bible Say?
Biblical take: The modern term “eating disorders” does not appear in the bible,
however it does talk about our self-worth, how our bodies are a gift from God and how each of us is made in the image of God. It emphasises how our worth does not come from our physical appearance but from what our heavenly Father says about us, and how we are to look after ourselves as a matter of honouring God.
Prayer: Lord thank you for creating me in your image. Thank you for your generosity and providence of our food. Help me see myself as you see me – beautiful and worthy of care. Surround me with your grace, fill me with your peace and give me strength in moments of weakness. Remind me that my worth is not based on physical appearance but in you. us, and how we are to look after ourselves as a matter of honouring God