Introduction

Food and eating is an essential part of healthy development and living. Experimenting with eating patterns is common (for example dieting, being vegetarian, sampling different foods, eating health foods) but sometimes eating patterns can become disordered and damaging. Sometimes people confuse who they are with what they look like and change their eating patterns as a result. Distress about eating is often linked to emotional distress in some way. Some common themes include:

• Preoccupation with food – thoughts and behaviours
• Issues around control or lack of control
• Negative perceptions of self, low self esteem, self-obsession
• Distorted thinking
• Secretive behaviour

Eating disorders often develop over time and may be recognised as:

• Anorexia – controlled and minimal food intake leading to excessive weight loss and distorted body image, often accompanied by excessive exercise.
• Bulimia - urges to over-eat (binge) followed by compensatory behaviour of purging by excessive fasting, self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives.
• Compulsive eating – urges to over-eat followed by more eating in attempts to regain control and comfort.

Moving out of Eating Distress

Recognising there is a problem and seeking support as early as possible is important. Often it is useful to tackle behaviours about food intake alongside working on the reasons for distorted and damaging behaviours around food. Talking through issues such as relating to family and friends, feelings about self and body image and any significant past events can help to make sense of why eating may have become disordered.

Medical support and information can be obtained from GP practices or health centres

 

Useful resources

Other Resources
http://www.eating-disorders.org.uk/
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/	B-eat: Beating eating disorders
http://mengetedstoo.co.uk/	Men Get Eating Disorders Too
http://www.studentminds.org.uk/understanding-eating-disorders.html
http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/	Self help booklet for those with eating disorders
https://storify.com/EqualityatBU/awareness-recovery-and-hope-in-eating-disorders-th	Short videos on recovering from eating disorders
Available from the University Library:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders : A Comprehensive Treatment Guide		Glenn Waller
Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa : An Optimistic Guide to Understanding and Healing {Developmental Perspectives in Psychiatry}	Explores causes, diagnosis, physical effects of anorexia,treatment options and recovery	Alexander R Lucas
Food-mood Solution : All-natural Ways to Banish Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Overeating, and Alcohol and Drug Problems--and Feel Good Again		Jack Challem
Invisible Man : A Self-help Guide for Men With Eating Disorders, Compulsive Exercise and Bigorexia	Aimed at men who feel they have difficulties with eating/weight	John F Morgan
Bulimia nervosa – a cognitive therapy programme for clients	CBT Programme aimed at changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours of bulimia	Cooper, Todd, Wells
Eating disorders- the facts	Sections on anorexia, bulimia and obesity. Includes info on how hormonal changes affect appetite	Abraham and Llewellen Jones
Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e) - A survival kit for sufferers of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders	Popular and easy to follow guide, has been evaluated in a clinical trial	Treasure & Schmidt
(Overcoming) Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating	CBT based self-help programme	Cooper
Anorexia Nervosa: A Survival Guide	Comprehensive and practical guide for sufferers and families.	Treasure
Diet of despair: a book about eating disorders for young people and their families	Written by a former anorexia sufferer, includes information about the different types of eating disorder and tips for recovery	Paterson
Fit to die – men and eating disorders	Useful book for men affected by an eating disorder and their families	Paterson
When Food is Love.	Useful if you want to understand how you relate to food and how this links with your relationships	G Roth
Calm Energy : How People Regulate Mood With Food and Exercise	Explores reasons for emotional eating and benefits of exercise to mood	Robert E. Thayer

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