What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders take many forms and the symptoms may be subtle in the early stages. One of the first signs is a change in personality of the sufferer; they may become withdrawn, engaging less with family and friends, irritable and volatile. For younger people this is sometimes put down to being a 'typical teenager'. However, it becomes noticeable that this behaviour is particularly associated with mealtimes and food. Eventually, as the eating disorder develops issues around food and diet grow to be all consuming for the sufferer.

While on the surface eating disorders may appear to be all about food, the fact is that irregular eating behaviour is underpinned and triggered by complex emotional issues. Problems with food can begin when it is used to cope with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, boredom, shame or sadness. These feelings may stem from a number of factors, events or pressures including low self-esteem, death of a loved one, problems at work or college, lack of confidence or sexual or emotional abuse. 

Often people with eating disorders feel that the eating disorder is the only way they can stay in control of their life: in fact, the eating disorder is controlling them.

Extreme-dieting, obsessive exercise, bingeing and poor body perception are all aspects of eating disorders and while each have their own characteristics, what they do all have in common is the harm they do to the sufferer's mental and physical well being. All are destructive in many ways, all cause a great deal of harm to the health of the sufferer and distress to their loved ones.

Related problems

Eating disorders are often accompanied by other conditions, such as anxiety, depression or OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). You may find that these related issues need to be treated alongside your eating disorder.

Do you have an eating disorder?

If you have an eating disorder you are probably worried about gaining weight, frightened at the idea of being at a normal weight and trying not to eat too much; otherwise, you might be desperate because you feel your eating is out of control. You may also be affected by an urge to self-harm or misuse alcohol or drugs.

If you are feeling any of these things, then you can call us on 0845 2 PRIORY (that's 0845 2 774679).  Treatment for an eating disorder is life-changing and Priory can help. Over the years we have helped thousands of people like you create the necessary changes that have enabled them to lead happy, fulfilled lives.

Useful links

Signs of eating disorders - the signs and symptoms to look out for that may suggest someone has, or is on the verge of developing, an eating disorder

SCOFF eating disorders questionnaire - a reliable screening tool used by the medical profession for detecting the existence of an eating disorder

Types of eating disorders - including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder

Causes of eating disorders - how they include a number of complex, interwoven, genetic, social, psychological and biological factors