Eating Disorders

People with anorexia nervosa are extremely restrictive in what they eat and drink, because of fear of weight gain, and poor body image. Sometimes this behaviour is also driven as a way of trying to regain control over your life. People with bulimia nervosa may ‘binge’ (eat a lot of food in one go), and are then sick and may take laxatives to get rid of the food.

Do I have a problem?

The ‘SCOFF’ questionnaire used by doctors asks:

Do you make yourself sick because you’re uncomfortably full?,
Do you worry that you’ve lost control over how much you eat?,
Have you recently lost more than 6 kilograms (about one stone) in three months?,
Do you believe you’re fat when others say you’re thin?,
Would you say that food dominates your life?,

If you answer “yes” to two or more of these questions, you may have an eating disorder.

What Might Help?

Having regular health checkups. It is important that you have checkups with your doctor, to monitor the impact the eating disorder may be having on your body.
Remembering gaining weight is not the same thing as recovery. But you can’t recover without gaining weight. People who are severely starved usually find it difficult to concentrate, or think clearly.
Seeking professional help. Speak with your GP regarding your eating difficulties, and consider a referral for specialist help in CAMHS. You may be offered family work, individual work, such Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which will focus on thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, or Psychodynamic work, which explores relationships with others and understanding causes of difficulties.
Medication. Sometimes medication is prescribed to help reduce the anxiety you might experience, and to reduce the ‘ruminations’ (thinking) that sufferers describe.

Useful Clips and Stories:

Men get eating disorders too