An eating disorder is a very serious and potentially life-threatening mental illness. Anyone can suffer from an eating disorder (boys, girls, young people, older people). 

Some eating disorders can make people think that they need to lose lots of weight when they really don’t at all. Others can cause individuals to overeat or obsess over food. 

Eating disorders can come from low self-esteem, a perceived need for control, and struggles with perfectionism. Depending on their duration and severity, eating disorders can have a lasting effect on the mental and physical health of the person experiencing the disorder. 

There are three main types of eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa: Restrictive

Anorexia causes people to severely restrict their food intake, and become increasingly fearful of gaining weight. People with anorexia often believe themselves to be a shape totally different to how they actually appear. Anorexia is a really serious condition that can lead to hospitalisation.

Bulimia: Binging/Purging 

Bulimia is an eating disorder that involves individuals binging, which means they will eat a huge amount of food within a short space of time (for instance two hours), followed by purging behaviours. This may mean excessive amounts of exercise or throwing up. This condition can have very harmful effects on someone’s mental and physical health.

Binge-eating disorder: Binging 

Binge-eating disorder causes people to overeat in a short space of time, on a regular basis. Often people with this condition will eat large amounts of food in secret, causing them to feel embarrassed or ashamed of their behaviour. Binge-eating disorders are usually linked to other mental health issues like poor self-esteem, negative body image, anxiety or depression.

Is it possible to recover from an eating disorder?

Yes. 

However, it can be really hard to take those first steps and seek professional treatment. Feelings of shame, embarrassment or fear can prevent a person with an eating disorder from seeking help. Realising that there is an issue, can also be hard. Sometimes people can make themselves believe that everything is under control or that there isn’t a problem.

Read more about recovering from an eating disorder here:

Recovering from an Eating Disorder by Julia Stuart

“The truth is, seeking help as early as possible greatly reduces the severity, duration and impact of an eating disorder. Seeking help at the first warning sign is much more effective than waiting until the illness is in full swing.” – National Eating Disorders Collaboration

To overcome an eating disorder, it’s important to have the situation assessed by a trained professional. Your family doctor can be a great start. There are also lots of trained medical staff, who specialise in this area.

To learn more about the development and treatment of eating disorders you can watch this TED-Ed video. 

Getting help

If you think that you or someone you know might be suffering from an eating disorder, it’s important to seek help straight away. 

• Your GP will be able to help and refer you to a specialist who helps people overcome conditions like this all the time. 
  • If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with a trusted adult, check out our post on ‘Going to the Doctor on Your Own’ for more info on making an appointment and finding a doctor that suits you. 
• Visit the National Eating Disorder Collaboration website for more information on help in your local area. Their website has loads of info on getting help, as well as information on all kinds of eating disorders – we highly recommend taking a look.
• The Butterfly Club has wonderful resources and a national helpline: 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email.
• Kid’s helpline and Lifeline are also wonderful resources.