Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses affecting people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. People with eating disorders use disordered eating behaviour as a way to cope with difficult situations or feelings. This behaviour can include limiting the amount of food eaten, eating very large quantities of food at once, getting rid of food eaten through unhealthy means (e.g. making themselves sick, misusing laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise), or a combination of these behaviours.

It’s important to remember that eating disorders are not all about food itself, but about feelings. The way the person treats food may make them feel more able to cope, or may make them feel in control, though they might not be aware of the purpose this behaviour is serving. An eating disorder is never the fault of the person experiencing it, and anyone who has an eating disorder deserves fast, compassionate support to help them get better.

Anorexia Nervosa - People are of low weight due to limiting how much they eat and drink. As well as limiting food how much they eat the may do lots of exercise, make themselves sick or misuse laxatives to get rid of the food they have eaten.

ARFID - AFRID stands for aviodant/restrictive food intake disorder.

Binge Eating disorder

Bulimia Nervosa

Orthorexia

OSFED

Pica

Rumination Disorder