Eating disorders involve a disturbance of eating habits or weight-control behaviour which results in impairment to physical health or which affects a person’s psychological and social functioning.
There are different types of eating disorders. Including:
Anorexia Nervosa
The main characteristics are:
Self-induced weight loss through food avoidance which can include the use of appetite suppressants, vomiting, laxatives and excessive exercise
Distorted body image
Hormonal changes
Very low body weight
Bulimia Nervosa
The main characteristics are :
Binge eating accompanied by subjective feelings of loss of control
Self induced vomiting and excessive exercise, as well as the issue of laxatives, diuretics or other medications
Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
Mood disturbances
Physical signs such as sore knuckles, tooth decay,throat infections,heart palpitations.
Binge eating (compulsive overeating)
This is the most common atypical eating disorder.
The main characteristics are :
Preoccupation with body shape and weight
Self-worth influenced by shape and weight
Associated with being overweight and obese
Purging is not involved
Some of the warning signs of an eating disorder include :
Avoidance of eating with the family
Being increasingly pre-occupied with exercising
Obsessively calorie counting or examining food labels for nutritional information
Being more secretive than usual
Complaining that the food that they have been given is fatty, disgusting or unhealthy
Anorexia and Bulimia Care (ABC)
www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk
ABC has 23 years of experience as a UK national eating disorder organisation.ABC provides personal advice and support to anyone affected by anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and all kinds of eating distress.
Boy Anorexia
Information website about anorexia in boys.
Beat (beating eating disorders)
This website provides information on all aspects of eating disorders
Support Apps for Eating Disorders
Recovery Record Eating Disorder Management
An app for eating disorder recovery for all eating disorders.
Rise Up Recovery Warriors
Eating disorders recovery tools including behaviour tracking, emotions and thought tracking.