Eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses where a person uses controlling food, eating or exercise to cope with difficult feelings or situations. They can seriously affect physical health. With the right support, people can and do recover.

Types of eating disorder

• Anorexia nervosa: trying to keep weight as low as possible by eating very little, exercising a lot, or both
• Bulimia nervosa: eating a lot of food in a short time (bingeing), then trying to get rid of it, for example by making yourself sick or using laxatives
• Binge eating disorder: regularly eating large amounts of food while feeling out of control, without getting rid of it afterwards
• ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder): avoiding certain foods or limiting how much you eat, for example because of fears or sensory issues, not because of body image
• OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder): when symptoms do not fit exactly into one of the other types. It is just as serious

Warning signs

• spending a lot of time worrying about food, weight or body shape
• avoiding eating with others
• strict rules or rituals around food
• eating very little or eating large amounts in secret
• going to the toilet straight after meals
• exercising a lot
• changes in mood, such as being anxious, low or irritable
• physical signs such as dizziness, feeling cold, missed periods or tooth damage

Getting help

• see your GP as soon as possible. Early treatment makes recovery more likely
• if you are worried about someone, gently encourage them to get help
• Beat offers free helplines and online support

See eating disorder treatment.