What are eating disorders?
Problems with food can begin when somebody starts to use food to cope with those times when they are bored, anxious, angry, lonely, ashamed or sad, or to help them to cope with painful situations or feelings, or to relieve stress.
Eating disorders usually result from a combination of many factors, events, feelings or pressures which lead someone to feel unable to cope. These can include low self-esteem, family relationships, problems with friends, being bullied, bereavement, problems at work, college or at university, high academic expectations, lack of confidence, long term illness or disability, sexual abuse, concerns over sexuality, or emotional abuse. Many people talk about simply feeling 'too fat' or 'not good enough'.
Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, sex, cultural or racial background, although the people most likely to be affected tend to be young women, particularly between the ages of 15-25. It is not unusual, however, for an eating disorder to appear in middle age.
Often people with eating disorders say that the eating disorder is the only way they feel they can stay in control of their life, but as time goes on it isn't really them who is in control - it is the eating disorder.
People often experience feelings of despair and shame, failure or lack of control because they cannot overcome these feelings about food on their own. Some people also find they are affected by an urge to harm themselves or misuse alcohol or drugs.
People who deal with emotions and feelings this way, and are unhappy about it, should try to talk to someone they trust. Bottling things up is not helpful to them or other people around them, won't make them feel any better, and the problem is unlikely to go away. See types of eating disorders for more information about particular eating disorders, and treatment for more information about methods of treatment.
More information
Based on information supplied by Eating Disorders Association.
Website: www.edauk.com. Helpline service: 0845 634 14.
