Eating
- The facts
- What is an eating disorder?
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge eating
- Other disorders linked with eating
- Treating eating disorders
- Confidentiality
- Helping your child
- Jessica's story
The facts
The truth is that eating disorders such as anorexia can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, class or race.1
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a condition in which a person becomes obsessed with controlling food, eating and their weight as a way of coping with emotional difficulties in their life. Eating disorders can affect anyone, at any time of life, but are most common in young women aged 15 to 25.1 There are three main types of eating disorder: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Sometimes people move from one to another.
Anorexia nervosa
People with anorexia restrict the amount of food they eat, sometimes to a dangerous level.2 They may become extremely underweight, yet still believe that they are overweight and deny there is a problem.2 Anorexia is sometimes sparked by stressful events, such as a divorce or bullying at school, but not always.1 In the long term, anorexia can lead to disrupted periods, loss of bone density and even, in rare cases, death.2
Bulimia nervosa
As with anorexia, people with bulimia use control of food as a way to cope with emotional problems. Unlike people with anorexia, people with bulimia go through cycles of eating huge amounts of food (bingeing) followed by vomiting, taking laxatives to get rid of it (purging) or exercising.3 Some people will binge and purge once every few months, while others will do so several times a day. Possible side-effects include constant tiredness, tooth decay and frequent weight changes.3 Bulimia does not cause the same dramatic weight loss as anorexia, so it can go undetected for quite a few years.3
Binge eating
Binge eating, sometimes called binge eating disorder or BED, has only been recognised as an eating disorder in its own right fairly recently. People who binge eat will eat uncontrollably, but don't purge themselves afterwards.4 According to the Eating Disorders Association, many people with xxxxx
Other disorders linked with eating
Not all eating disorders will fall into these classes. There are variations, and some people may have some but not all of the symptoms described.4
Some people may have other types of eating related disorders, such as chewing food and then spitting it out without swallowing, or eating non-food items, such as tissues. This may be to take away hunger without taking in the calories. These disorders are more common than many believe, but they can be treated.4
Treating eating disorders
Eating disorders can be difficult to diagnose because people who have them are extremely secretive about them. If you suspect your son or daughter may have an eating disorder, it's important that they see a doctor as soon as possible so that their health can be assessed and a proper diagnosis made.
Sometimes, eating disorders can be treated by your GP with a combination of self-help, medication and/or counselling. Your doctor may decide, however, that your son or daughter needs to be referred to a specialist service for people with eating disorders. In this case, your child will normally be cared for as an out-patient by a team of health professionals who specialise in treating eating disorders. They will give your child advice on diet and food. She or he may also need medication and counselling.
Less often, your child may need to have in-patient treatment. This should take place in a unit designed specifically for young people with eating disorders, and should also be as close to your home as possible.
Confidentiality
Your GP and the health care team looking after your son or daughter will respect their confidentiality at all times. However, you should be kept informed so that you can care for your child. In the same way, information you pass to your doctor or the health care team will also be kept confidential.
Helping your child
Experts now agree that it is very important for parents and families to be involved in the care and treatment of a young person who has an eating disorder. To help your child:
- seek help from your doctor as soon as possible and make sure the problem is taken seriously
- get support yourself (see below)
- try to keep family life ticking over as normally as possible - don't let the eating disorder take over completely
- ask for advice on how to talk to your child about his or her condition and their treatment
- work with your son or daughter not against them - ask for their help in planning family menus for example
- give your child all the unconditional love and support you have, but don't try to run their life for them.
Jessica's story
Jessica Wilson is mother to Julia, 24, and Sarah, 26. Julia is recovering from anorexia and Sarah from a combination of bulimia, binge eating and anorexia.
"It first became apparent that Julia and Sarah had eating disorders when they were about 14 and 16. We were lucky enough to be able to get professional help quickly. This is crucial because these diseases get embedded very quickly. Sometimes parents get excluded from their children's treatment, but we found that the best approach was to work as a team with our daughters and their doctors. You need to draw up a game plan that you all agree on. It's hard coming to terms with the fact that your child has an eating disorder, but you simply have to face up to it and do your best to get them the right help."
- What is an eating disorder? Beat.
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/AboutEatingDisorders/WhatisanEatingdisorder, accessed 3 October 2007 - What is anorexia nervosa? Beat.
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/AboutEatingDisorders/WhatisanEatingdisorder/WhatisAnorexiaNervosa, accessed 3 October 2007 - What is bulimia nervosa? Beat.
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/AboutEatingDisorders/WhatisanEatingdisorder/WhatisBulimiaNervosa, accessed 3 October 2007 - Other eating disorders. Beat.
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/AboutEatingDisorders/WhatisanEatingdisorder/Othereatingdisorders, accessed 3 October 2007