Eating Disorders

SEN Resources

Eating Disorders

“Nearly 2 million kids alive and healthy today will develop an eating disorder before they reach adulthood…unless we do something about it.”

A staggering statistic from Withall’s What to Say Now. They go on to say that,”With 70% of girls and 40% of boys reporting body dissatisfaction, there is no better time for you to make a positive impact on the kids in your life

So what is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you use the control of food to cope with feelings and other situations. Unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little or worrying about your weight or body shape. Anyone can get an eating disorder, but teenagers between 13 and 17 are mostly affected. (NHS England).

What are the different types of eating disorders?

The most common eating disorders are:

anorexia nervosa – trying to control your weight by not eating enough food, exercising too much, or doing both
bulimia – losing control over how much you eat and then taking drastic action to not put on weight
binge eating disorder (BED) – eating large portions of food until you feel uncomfortably full

Other Specified Feeding Or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

A person may have an OSFED if their symptoms do not exactly fit the expected symptoms for any specific eating disorders.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OSFED ON THE BEAT WEBSITE

Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

ARFID is when someone avoids certain foods, limits how much they eat or does both. Beliefs about weight or body shape are not reasons why people develop ARFID.
Possible reasons for ARFID include:

Negative feelings over the smell, taste or texture of certain foods
a response to a past experience with food that was upsetting, for example, choking or being sick after eating something
Not feeling hungry or just a lack of interest in eating

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ARFID ON THE BEAT WEBSITE

Symptoms of eating disorders

Symptoms of eating disorders are often associated with change, If you sense your child is changing in relation to their relationship with food then it could be worth considering whether they display any of the following symptoms shared in this video by the National Eating Disorders Association…

The emotional, social and physical symptoms are shared on their website National Eating Disorders Association

What causes eating disorders?

The cause of eating disorders is incredibly varied. There are certain life factors that may make it more likely to someone to develop an eating disorder. E.g. if:

You or a member of your family has a history of eating disorders, depression, or alcohol or drug misuse
You’ve been criticized for your eating habits, body shape or weight
You’re really worried about being slim, particularly if you also feel pressure from society or your job, for example, ballet dancers, models or athletes
You have anxiety, low self-esteem, an obsessive personality or are a perfectionist
You’ve been sexually abused

NHS England.

How would you spot the signs of an eating disorder in others?

It is not always easy to spot the signs as many of the key change behaviours are hidden but warning signs to look out for include:

Dramatic weight loss
Lying about how much they’ve eaten,
when they’ve eaten, or their weight
Eating a lot of food very fast
Going to the bathroom a lot after eating
Exercising a lot
Avoiding eating with others
Cutting food into small pieces or eating very slowly
Wearing loose or baggy clothes to hide their weight loss

Where can you go to seek help?

Your GP will be a good source of support and may be able to refer you to an eating disorder specialist team.
Speak to your child’s school. They may be able to provide links to health professionals including the School Nurse Team.
Eating Disorder Charities such as BEAT (Beating Eating Disorders). They offer both an adult and child helpline.

Adult Helpline On

0808 801 0677

Youth Helpline On

0808 801 0711

Eating Disorders

SEN Resources