Eating Disorders

Are you or someone you know having problems with any of these?

• Fear of being fat
• Under-eating
• Dramatic weight loss
• Taking an unusual amount of exercise
• For girls, their periods stopping
• Becoming obsessed with diet and what you are eating

If so, it may be because of an eating disorder.

Having a problem with eating is usually a way of dealing with other things in life, such as stress, family problems, or pressure to be thin or accepted by your social group.

It is thought that over a million people in Great Britain suffer with an eating disorder. Around 90,000 people are receiving treatment for the eating disorders anorexia or bulimia.

Each year, ChildLine speaks to over 1,000 young people about eating problems; 99 out of 100 are girls. Most are between 13 and 16, but children as young as 10 and 11 years old phone ChildLine to talk about eating problems.

More information?

Beat - Beating Eating Disorders

If you are worried about someone with an eating disorder, send a text message to 07 977 493 345 (std text rates) and they will get back to you within 24 hours. They also have a youthline for young people - 0845 634 7650.

Equip information about local help and about Eating disorders.

NHS Direct

Tel: Helpline 0845 4647