Mental Health and Wellbeing Information
Eating Disorders
What is an Eating Disorder?
A person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food with damaging results to their health.
The most common eating disorders are:
- Anorexia Nervosa – when a person tries to keep their weight as low as possible; for example, by starving themselves or exercising excessively
- Bulimia - when a person goes through periods of binge eating and is then deliberately sick or uses laxatives to try to control their weight
- Binge Eating Disorder - when a person feels compelled to overeat large amounts of food in a short space of time
Signs of anorexia nervosa
- Making yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full
- A feeling of losing control over how much you eat
- Losing more that one stone (six kilograms) in a three month period
- Believing yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin
- When food dominates your life
Signs of Bulimia
- An obsessive attitude toward food and eating
- An overcritical attitude to your weight and shape
- Frequent visits to the bathroom after eating
- Appearing flushed and having scared knuckles (to bring on vomiting)
Signs of Binge Eating Disorder
- Eating much faster than normal during a binge
- Eating until you feel uncomfortably full
- Eating a large amount of food when you are not hungry
- Eating alone or secretly due to being embarassed about the amount of food you are consuming
- Feelings of guilt, shame or disgust after binge eating
Spotting an eating disorder in others
It can often be very difficult to identify if a person has developed an eating disorder.
Warning signs to look out for include:
- Dramatic weight loss or weight gain
- Missing meals
- Making repeated claims that they've already eaten and avoiding eating
- Avoiding social outings to restaurants
- Eating small portions
- Frequent public complaints about their body image
- Repeatedly weighing themselves and looking at themselves in the mirror
- Compulsive exercise
- The use of "pro-anorexia" websites
Possible Impacts in the Workplace
- Frequent mood swings
- Low self esteem
- Compulsive behaviours
- Competitive behaviour
- Withdrawn behaviours
- Signs of depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased sickness absence
- Performance issues
How can I help myself?
If you think you have developed an eating disorder, contact your GP or have a discussion with your line manager who may refer you to Occupational Health.
You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from the eating disorder charity Beat by calling their helpline on 0345 634 1414. They also have a designated youth helpline on 0345 634 7650.
You can access our self help page for advice and tips: How can I maintain positive mental health & wellbeing