Eating disorders

Eating disorders become noticeable through an abnormal attitude towards food that causes someone to change their eating habits and behaviour. 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.

Eating disorders include a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and in social situations. The most common eating disorders are:

• Anorexia nervosa, when someone tries to keep their weight as low as possible, for example by starving themselves or exercising excessively
• Bulimia, when someone tries to control their weight by binge eating and then deliberately being sick or using laxatives (medication to help empty their bowels)
• Binge eating, when someone feels compelled to overeat.

Useful Resources for Eating Disorder Information

• Introducing Spot for Eating Disorders
• Pan Sussex Young People and Family Eating Disorder Service
• National Eating Disorder Association

Last updated 1 November 2022