Eating is often affected when people are under pressure. Some people may crave a particular food, lose their appetite or eat more than necessary. However when people carry on eating too little or too much over a considerable period of time, they may be in danger of developing an eating disorder. In these cases food often becomes the centre of their lives. Some people may deny themselves anything to eat even when they are very hungry, others may eat constantly or binge.  The subject of food and how much they weigh can become a sort of obsession, being on their mind all the time. Food may start then affecting their lives in a very negative way.

It's important to understand that eating distress isn't just about food and eating. It's about difficult problems and painful feelings, which people can't express, face or resolve. Focusing on food is a way of disguising this, even from themselves.

References

Understanding Eating Distress, Mind – Information and Advice: www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/eating_distress

Eating Disorders, The Royal College of Psychiatrists – Mental Health Info www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/problems/eatingdisorders/eatingdisorders.aspx

Find Out More and Seek Help

beat (formerly Eating Disorders Association): 103 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich NR1 1DW. Adult Helpline: 0845 634 1414 (Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Sat 1-4.30pm), E-mail: help@b-eat.co.uk, Youthline: 0845 634 7650 (Mon-Fri 4.30-8.30pm and Sat 1-4.30pm), E-mail: fyp@b-eat.co.uk Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
beat is the main British charitable organisation providing independent information about eating disorders. This comprehensive website provides accurate information about the main eating disorders. Also included is information on eating disorders for male sufferers, sportspeople and older people, issues that are frequently omitted from other web sites. For young people there are interactive user-friendly pages to help them identify if they may have an eating disorder followed by practical, sensible advice regarding help available. Details of the youth and adult telephone help-lines are provided and there is a wealth of information about beat and other self-help and support groups.

Careline: Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford IG1 1QP. Tel: 0845 122 8622 (Mon-Fri 10am-1pm and 7-10pm), E-mail: info@carelineuk.org, Website: www.carelineuk.org
Provides confidential telephone counselling for children, young people and adults on any issue including eating disorders, depression, loneliness, anxieties and phobias. The website has a forum and an online counselling portal.

Centre for Eating Disorders (Scotland): 10 Carment Drive, Glasgow G41 3PP. Tel: 0141 632 6663, Website: www.eatingdisordersscotland.co.uk
Independent private practice set up by Mary Hart, Edinburgh and Grace Coia, Glasgow, which offers a counseling service to those who suffer from eating disorders.

First Steps to Freedom: PO Box 476, Newquay TR7 1WQ. Helpline: 0845 120 2916 (Mon-Thurs 10am-10pm; Fri-Sun 10am-midnight), E-mail: first.steps@btconnect.com, Website: www.first-steps.org
Offers a confidential helpline, counselling and befriending, telephone self-help groups plus leaflets and audio tapes.

Mental Health Foundation: 9th Floor, Sea Containers House, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9QB. Tel: 020 7803 1101 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm), E-mail: mhf@mhf.org.uk, Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Working to improve the support available for people with mental health problems offering information and literature on all aspects of mental health. Unable to offer advice on an individual basis.

Websites

Anorexia and Bulimia Care: www.anorexiabulimiacare.co.uk
An organisation run by Christians for sufferers of anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating disorders, their families and carers. Can point people towards support groups or put them in touch with ex-sufferers. Website has useful resources, plus a guide for parents.

Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc: http://www.anad.org/
American-based website containing information about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, compulsive exercising, and other less well-known food and weight disorders, and includes statistics, warning signs, personal stories and links.

Body Whys www.bodywhys.ie/
Information about eating disorders, coupled with online support and advocacy. Large selection of links applicable to both Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Eating Disorders Unit - Research and Information http://web1.iop.kcl.ac.uk/Extras/EatHealthy/frontispiece.html
This site is the website of the Eating Disorders Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry. There are sections for service users, carers, and health care providers offering information and on-line resources on a broad range of topics, including early recognition of eating disorders, evidence-based treatments of eating disorders, risk assessment and management, confidentiality, eating disorders and the mental health act and many other topics. There are also research sections giving an overview of current studies the unit is involved in with links to more detailed information about each.

Eating Disorder Research: www.eating-disorder-research.com/

Mirror Mirror www.mirror-mirror.org/eatdis.htm
This is a website aimed at sufferers of eating disorders. It puts a lot of emphasis on the need to deal with emotional issues but also gives sufferers practical tips about how to begin to eat more normally and help prevent relapse. There is a useful "myths and realities" page and a "survivors wall" where people in recovery can share their thoughts.

National Centre for Eating Disorders: www.eating-disorders.org.uk
An independent organization set up to provide solutions for all eating problems, compulsive or "binge" eating, failed or "yo-yo" dieting, bulimia and anorexia. Their services include: counselling, professional training and information. The website also includes information for men with an eating disorders.

Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders www.something-fishy.org
Pro-recovery website dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders, providing support and information for those with eating disorders, and their family and friends.

Further Readings

Breaking Free from Anorexia Nervosa by Janet Treasure (Psychology Press, 1997)
This book attempts to answer some of the questions that are asked by sufferers, their families and friends.

Anorexia Nervosa: The wish to change by A H Crisp and others (Psychology Press, 1996)
Offers direct practical help on how to recover from anorexia.

Conquering Anorexia by Clare Lindsay (Summersdale Publishers, 2000)
Provides an insight into anorexia, offers reassurance for sufferers and their families in similar experiences and advice on steps to overcome the emotional and physical problems of living with this illness.

Anorexics on Anorexia edited by Rosemary Shelley (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1997)
In this book, recovering sufferers of anorexia nervosa describe in their own words their personal experiences of this illness, providing not only support for fellow sufferers but also valuable insights for the families of sufferers and for carers and professionals.