Eating Disorders

It is okay to change your eating habits every now and then, perhaps when you are stressed or unhappy. But if these changes are severe they can signal an outward expression of internal emotional pain or distress. Eating habits can also sometimes be affected by societal perceptions of perfect.

It can be very easy for people to sometimes confuse who they are with what they look like and just focus on weight/body shape rather than the wonderful person they are.

The issues that cause eating disorders are complex and not everyone will experience the same symptoms, which is why it is crucial to treat the individual in the way that it is most beneficial to them.

Some symptoms include:

  • Missing meals
  • Complaining about being fat even though not (normal weight)
  • Repeatedly weighing self/looking in the mirror
  • Avoiding eating with excuses (just ate, going out soon etc)
  • Only eating low calorie foods (celery, lettuce)
  • Refusing to eat at restaurants

If you think you, or someone close to you, might be suffering with an eating disorder, contact your GP or speak to a counsellor as soon as you can.

More Information

Useful Articles

Here's a list of articles on eating disorders you might find helpfu.

Understanding Eating Disorders 
Eating Disorders are among the most frustrating and difficult-to-treat conditions anyone can face. Research efforts at several NIH institutes are helping health care professionals and their patients better understand what can be done to deal with these conditions.

How can I stop my child developing an eating disorder 
Adolescents are particularly susceptible to worries over weight and diet. Here’s what parents can do to stop these fears becoming serious health issues

Journal of Eating Disorders 
A collection of scholarly articles on eating disorders

Eating Disorders: Why do they happen? 
Eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia, are complicated, serious and potentially devastating. They’re caused by a complex combination of factors, including genetic, biochemical, psychological, cultural and environmental. While researchers haven’t been able to pinpoint the specifics behind these causes, they can identify various factors that make individuals susceptible to eating disorders.

Poems and Quotes to Inspire You

Dare we hope? We dare.
Can we hope? We can.
Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts given so freely by God to all of us.  So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.

Andy Ripley – England and Lions rugby legend, often described as one of the most colourful personalities in the history of English rugby

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