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Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect millions of people around the world, including a significant number of teenagers. Understanding what eating disorders are and recognising the different types can be crucial in seeking the right help and support.

Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviours that negatively impact your health, your emotions, and your ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders among teenagers include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Each of these disorders has unique symptoms:

• Anorexia Nervosa: characterised by weight loss, difficulty maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat.
• Bulimia Nervosa: Involves periods of food binging followed by purging (via methods such as vomiting or using laxatives), excessive exercise, or fasting.
• Binge-Eating Disorder: Similar to bulimia, this disorder involves regular episodes of extreme overeating and feelings of loss of control about eating, but unlike bulimia, episodes are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting.

The Impact on Teenagers

Eating disorders can distort a teenager's self-image and self-confidence, influencing their social life, academic performance, and family relationships. The pressure to fit in, peer influences, social media exposure, and the stress of academic and future career choices can escalate these issues, leading to significant emotional and physical health problems.

Physical Health Risks

Some of the physical health risks associated with eating disorders include:

• Bone weakening
• Anaemia
• Muscle loss and weakness
• Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure
• Heart difficulties

Emotional and Psychological Impacts

On an emotional level, struggles can manifest as:

• Lack of concentration
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Anxiety and depression
• An intense fear of gaining weight

Finding Help and Support

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it's important to seek help. Here's who can help:

1. Medical Professionals

Health professionals such as general practitioners (GPs) can provide initial advice, conduct a basic assessment, and refer you to more specialised care if needed. Nutritionists and dietitians can help develop meal plans that ensure you're getting the nutrients needed without fostering unhealthy eating habits.

2. Mental Health Professionals

Psychologists or psychiatrists who specialise in eating disorders are vital. They can offer therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which has been proven effective in treating disorders such as bulimia and binge eating.

3. Support Groups

Attending meetings with others facing similar challenges can be incredibly supportive. It helps to know you're not alone and share coping strategies in a safe environment.

4. School Counsellors and Teachers

Your school counsellor or trusted teachers can be a significant support system. They can assist in managing school-related stress and can serve as advocates for any necessary academic adjustments.

5. Online Resources

Numerous non-profits and health organisations offer online resources, which can be a good starting point for understanding the condition and finding help. Examples include the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) or Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity.

Practical Strategies for Dealing with Eating Disorders

Tackling an eating disorder requires courage and commitment, but recovery is entirely possible with the right strategies and support. Here are practical steps to help overcome an eating disorder:

• Admitting the Problem: The first step in recovery is acknowledging that there is a problem. Recognising and admitting this can often be the hardest step.
• Seek Professional Help: As listed above, getting help from professionals is crucial to recovery.
• Develop a Support System: Keep close contacts informed about your situation so they can support you.
• Learn Healthy Eating Habits: Relearn healthy eating behaviours and personal attitudes towards food under professional guidance.
• practise Mindfulness: Techniques such as meditation can help deal with negative thoughts and anxiety that may trigger disordered eating patterns.

Dealing with an eating disorder is not about dieting or merely gaining or losing weight. It's a complex interplay of mental, emotional, and physical factors that need to be understood and treated comprehensively. With the right help, anyone can overcome these disorders to lead a healthy, fulfilling life.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.