Eating problems

People with anorexia nervosa (sometimes just called anorexia) try to keep their weight down by eating very little, exercising too much, or both. They often have “rules” about what, when or where they eat. They might think they’re larger than they actually are and worry about gaining weight.

ARFID stands for ‘avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder’. It used to be called a selective eating disorder. People with ARFID avoid certain foods or types of food. Or they limit how much food they eat. Unlike anorexia, people with ARFID don’t necessarily do this to lose weight.

Some common reasons people with ARFID limit their food intake are:

• Sensory sensitivity – you might struggle with the appearance, smell, texture, temperature or taste of certain foods. Autistic people can sometimes struggle with this if they have sensory differences that cause them distress or discomfort.
• Limited interest in food – you might not realise when you are hungry, see eating as a chore, or just not enjoy eating.
• Worries about the consequences of eating – if you’ve had a frightening experience with choking, vomiting, or stomach pain, you might be afraid that this’ll happen again. So you stick to what you think are “safe” foods.

People with bulimia get into a cycle of “binge-eating” (over-eating) and “purging” (trying to control your weight by making yourself sick, using laxatives, or over-exercising).

Lots of us eat a bit more than usual sometimes, but bingeing is different. It’s often very distressing, uncontrollable, and can involve eating things you’d usually avoid. It’s also often followed by a desire to purge, and people can get trapped in a cycle of bingeing and purging.

People tend to binge as a way of dealing with difficult emotions. If life is getting a bit much and you’re feeling out of control, purging can feel like a way of getting back on top of things. But bulimia can seriously damage your body, so reaching out for help is crucial.

Binge-eating disorder is a condition where people regularly and uncontrollably eat loads of food really quickly. They feel like they can’t stop eating and can do this even when they’re not hungry. It’s common for people to feel embarrassed or ashamed afterwards.

Sometimes these binges can come out of the blue, but other times they’re planned, like if the person buys particular foods. Some people go to extreme lengths to get food, like eating food that’s been thrown away or isn’t theirs.

Unlike bulimia, people with binge-eating disorder don’t usually “purge” afterwards. This means they don’t try to get rid of the food in their body.

OSFED is a term for lots of different eating disorders. It stands for ‘other specified feeding or eating disorder’. If you’re having problems eating but your symptoms don’t neatly fit with the symptoms of anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder, you’ll likely be diagnosed with OSFED.

Here are some typical examples of OSFED:

• Atypical anorexia – when you have all the symptoms of anorexia, but your weight remains within a “normal” range.
• Binge-eating disorder (low frequency/limited duration) – when you have the symptoms of binge eating disorder, but not as often or for as long.
• Bulimia nervosa (low frequency/limited duration) – when you have the symptoms of bulimia, but the cycles of bingeing and purging don’t happen as often or don’t last as long.
• Night eating syndrome – when you eat a lot at night even after your dinner, or you wake up in the night to eat.
• Purging disorder – when you purge, like with bulimia, but it’s not part of a binge/purge cycle.

Pica is an eating disorder where you can’t stop yourself from eating things that aren’t food and have no nutritional value, like soap, chalk or dirt. Most people with pica eat regular food too.

If you think you might have an eating disorder, talk to someone. This can be tough, but lots of young people with eating disorders tell us that talking about it was the first step on their road to recovery.

Rebuilding your relationship with food will be hard, but your doctor can help you get the support you need. One option is talking therapy – this is when you talk to a trained professional who can help you figure out and deal with the root of the problem.

Bear in mind that the doctor might want to measure your weight. It’s okay to be nervous about this but remember they’re not going to judge you – they’re only doing it to help. You can request to not see or be told your current weight if that information makes things difficult for you.

Helpfinder is Beat's online directory of eating disorder services, allowing you to search for specialist care in your area.

Sharing your experiences with others can help you feel less alone and encourage you to get better.

The Nest is a welcoming online space for anyone who has, or thinks they have, an eating disorder. It’s run by staff from the eating disorder charity Beat and is a confidential and safe space to share your experiences with other people in similar situations.

Sessions run every Tuesday from 6.45-7.45pm and you can attend as often or as little as you like.

Some social media accounts make eating problems seem cool or glamorous. This isn’t helpful for your recovery and can be really damaging. It’s tough, but consider swapping these accounts with more positive ones.