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An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you use the control of food to cope with feelings and other situations.
Unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little or worrying about your weight or body shape.

Anyone can get an eating disorder, but teenagers between 13 and 17 are mostly affected.

With treatment, most people can recover from an eating disorder.

The most common eating disorders are:

A person may have an OSFED if their symptoms do not exactly fit the expected symptoms for any specific eating disorders.

OSFED is the most common eating disorder. You can find out more about OSFED on the Beat website.

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

ARFID is when someone avoids certain foods, limits how much they eat or does both.

Beliefs about weight or body shape are not reasons why people develop ARFID.

Possible reasons for ARFID include:

negative feelings over the smell, taste or texture of certain foods

a response to a past experience with food that was upsetting, for example, choking or being sick after eating something

not feeling hungry or just a lack of interest in eating

You can find out more about ARFID on the Beat website.

If you or people around you are worried that you have an unhealthy relationship with food, you could have an eating disorder.

Symptoms of eating disorders include:

spending a lot of time worrying about your weight and body shape

avoiding socialising when you think food will be involved

eating very little food

making yourself sick or taking laxatives after you eat

exercising too much

having very strict habits or routines around food

changes in your mood such as being withdrawn, anxious or depressed

You may also notice physical signs, including:

feeling cold, tired or dizzy

pains, tingling or numbness in your arms and legs (poor circulation)

feeling your heart racing, fainting or feeling faint

problems with your digestion, such as bloating, constipation or diarrhoea

your weight being very high or very low for someone of your age and height

not getting your period or other delayed signs of puberty

You can read more about the symptoms of:

It can be very difficult to identify that a loved one or friend has developed an eating disorder.

Warning signs to look out for include:

dramatic weight loss

lying about how much they've eaten, when they've eaten, or their weight

eating a lot of food very fast

going to the bathroom a lot after eating

exercising a lot

avoiding eating with others

cutting food into small pieces or eating very slowly

wearing loose or baggy clothes to hide their weight loss

If you think you may have an eating disorder, see a GP as soon as you can.

A GP will ask about your eating habits and how you're feeling, plus check your overall health and weight.

They may refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists.

It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment.

You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling their adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.

It can be difficult to know what to do if you're worried that someone has an eating disorder.

They may not realise they have an eating disorder. They may also deny it, or be secretive and defensive about their eating or weight.

Let them know you're worried about them and encourage them to see a GP. You could offer to go along with them.

Read more about talking to your child about eating disorders and supporting someone with an eating disorder.

The eating disorder charity Beat also has information on:

You can recover from an eating disorder, but it may take time and recovery will be different for everyone.

If you're referred to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists, they'll be responsible for your care.

They should talk to you about the support you might need, such as for other conditions you have, and include this in your treatment plan.

Your treatment will depend on the type of eating disorder you have, but usually includes a talking therapy.

You may also need regular health checks if your eating disorder is having an impact on your physical health.

Your treatment may also involve working through a guided self-help programme if you have bulimia or binge eating disorder.

Most people will be offered individual therapy, but those with binge eating disorder may be offered group therapy.

Read more about the different treatments for:

Treatment for other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) will depend on the type of eating disorder your symptoms are most like.

For example, if your symptoms are most like anorexia, your treatment will be similar to the treatment for anorexia.

We do not know exactly what causes eating disorders.

You may be more likely to get an eating disorder if:

you or a member of your family has a history of eating disorders, depression, or alcohol or drug misuse

you've been criticised for your eating habits, body shape or weight

you're really worried about being slim, particularly if you also feel pressure from society or your job, for example, ballet dancers, models or athletes

you have anxiety, low self-esteem, an obsessive personality or are a perfectionist

you've been sexually abused

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An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you use the control of food to cope with feelings and other situations. Unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little or worrying about your weight or body shape. Anyone can get an eating disorder, but teenagers between 13 and 17 are mostly affected.

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Hi, this is a community board that is full of links to resources to support young people and adults regarding eating disorders and disordered eating.

Please feel free to contribute to this project by adding links of your own to the board and sharing it with other Scouters.

any feedback please direct it to inclusion@kentscouts.org.uk

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Guidance for leaders to share with young people relating to eating disorders.

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What To Do If You’re Experiencing Eating Problems

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Whether you have a diagnosed eating disorder like anorexia, bulimia or ARFID, or you have just begun to struggle with food and eating, help is available.

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Eating problems can happen because of lots of different things, but we're always here to support you.

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Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous

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Need information or support for an eating disorder? Find out about how to seek help including services that Beat offer.

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Supporting 10-16 year olds to cope better with the pressures of everyday life.

Here at the Kent Resilience Hub we wanted to create a resource that helps young people, parents and carers and professionals to understand emotional growth and resilience.

Sometimes it can be hard to know how best to support a child or young person in difficult times. We have tried to help by finding the best and most reliable information, articles, tools and resources relating to resilience and emotional wellbeing. One place where you can increase your understanding and awareness, find approaches and tools or navigate your way to appropriate support and services.

Sometimes it can be hard to know how best to support a child or young person in difficult times. We have tried to help by finding the best and most reliable information, articles, tools and resources relating to resilience and emotional wellbeing. One place where you can increase your understanding and awareness, find approaches and tools or navigate your way to appropriate support and services.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here at the Kent Resilience Hub we wanted to create a resource that helps young people, parents and carers and professionals to understand emotional growth and resilience. Sometimes it can be hard to know how best to support a child or young person in difficult times.