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 FREE  PL
MANY
YOUNG CARERS
ARE EFFECTED BY
EATING
DISORDERS
THIS MAGAZINE CONTAINS
ARTICLES ABOUT THIS
DIFFICULT BUT
IMPORTANT SUBJECT
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
E AT I N G
DISORDERS
There are different types of eating
problems and disorders – some
are more serious than others. All
eating difficulties are worrying. It’s
when you or your friends and family
become troubled by your eating
habits, if you’re losing weight and
thinking about it all the time that
it becomes an eating problem. It’s
important to talk about things and
feel supported as if left alone worries
and eating problems can continue
and get worse.
Eating problems and disorders are
not just about food, they are about
feelings.
Our 2013 young carers health survey
showed that 35% of young carers
recognised they experienced the
symptoms of an eating disorder.
9.6% related this specifically to their
caring role.
You can get help from parents,
friends, CAMHS, school/college
counsellors or GP’S.
“I was tired and everything but I
liked what I was seeing when
I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t
see it as being a problem”.
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
Firstly, what is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is something that is very common in the UK, it is when someone
either over-eats or under-eats. If you over-eat, you quite often become obese and
health problems will occur. However if you under- eat or starve yourself, then you
can become exceptionally thin. Under-eating can take on various forms, for example
anorexia, which is a condition where people deliberately starve themselves in order
to lose weight. Another form of eating disorder is called bulimia, which is where you
overeat, then deliberately make yourself sick. All of these conditions can be very bad
for your health, and could even give you fatal illnesses.
How can we help others with eating disorders? Well usually people over or under eat
because they have problems or are unhappy. Have you got a relative or friend with
an eating disorder? Well here are a few tips to help you help them:
If you suspect
they have bulimia
or anorexia:
However if they
are overweight
then:
• Calmly explain to them the
consequences of eating disorders.
• Illustrate to them the health problems
that can occur due to their poor diet.
• Help them choose food they
feel they can eat.
• Help them to choose the right
foods to eat.
• Offer to support them when
they go food shopping
• Encourage them to eat healthily
and exercise more.
• Be there for them, ready to support
and listen, but not to judge.
• Help think of some reward or
goal they can work towards, eg,
shopping for new clothes.
• Help them to create an
acceptable eating plan.
• Guide them towards professional
help if necessary
Being seriously UNDER or OVERWEIGHT can be
dangerous, so if you cannot help them with this, then
get them a doctor or expert who will be able to help.
YOU CAN MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE!
By Isobel Clifton, aged 11
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
E WHO YOU
N
O
E
M
O
S
G
IN
H
C
A
TIPS FOR APPRO
DISORDER:
G
IN
T
A
E
N
A
S
A
H
THINK OR KNOW
Get some help for your
self first by
talking to a friend or pr
ofessional
about your concerns.
to say, and
Prepare what you have
y it.
how you’re going to sa
Choose a place where you both fee
l
safe and won’t be disturbed.
g disHave some info about eatin
if the
orders on you –look at them
or leave
person seems to be listening
k at on
them behind for them to loo
their own.
you
en neither of
h
w
e
m
ti
a
se
Choo
y time just
gry –avoid an
n
a
r
o
t
se
p
u
is
r meals.
before or afte
Talk to them on your own – if oth
er
people are around, they might fee
l
you’re ganging up on them.
Be prepared for them to be angry and
emotional, and say hurtful things.
Don’t be surprised if they deny everything and don’t give up on them.
The decision to recover has to come
from them. Reflect positively on what
you’ve done –you have opened a
door.
EN TALKING
H
W
Y
A
S
D
N
A
O
D
TIPS FOR WHAT TO
G DISORDER:
IN
T
A
E
N
A
H
IT
W
E
TO SOMEON
Be aware that they’re lik
ely to be feeling embarrassed, asha
med and scared
ck them into
Don’t label them or tri
eating disoradmitting they have an
der.
Re-affirm your love for them – ie
if
they say they ‘I hate you’ you say
‘well
I don’t hate you, I love you’
Use ‘I’ se
nte
noticed y nces (I’m worried
ou don’t
seem hap as I’ve
stead of ‘
py) inyou need
to get he
lp’
Thinking of the eating disorder as a
gremlin or monster on the shoulder of
the sufferer may help you to not take
things that they say or do too personally, or to blame or resent them.
bave a pro
h
y
e
h
t
e
g
knowledg
eg by goin
,
m
If they ac
e
h
t
r to help
lem, offe
them.
GP with
e
h
t
e
e
s
to
If they’re not ready to
talk about their
problem, reassure them
that you’ll be
there when they are. Do
n’t leave it
too long before asking
them about it
again.
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
Why do people get
eating disorders?
• Feeling out of control your body is the only
thing that you have control over.
• Knowing parents who worry about their own
weight and diet.
• Wanting to be popular thinking if you’re slim
you’ll be more attractive to other people.
• Wanting to be like other people who are
successful eg Models in magazines - confusing
slimness with success.
• Carrying on without eating much after an
illness (eg flu), even though the illness has
gone.
• Starting a diet and not being able to stop.
• Not realising that a bit of body fat I normal and
needed for health.
• Feeling you aren’t good enough – thinking that
everything will be better if you’re thinner
• Hating your body –this might be because
something bad has happened to you, for
example if you have been abused.
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
What if your
BROTHER/SISTER
If you have a
friend with an
eating disorder
remember:
•Don’t take
responsibility
for your friends
problems
•Don’t feel guilty –
it’s not your fault
•Don’t change your
own eating habits
–it’s important
that your friend is
reminded of health
eating habits.
•Don’t give up –
even though your
friend may push
you away or tell
you to mind your
own business.
•Reassure them that
you care about
them, whatever
their behaviour.
•Maintaining your
friendship can give
them stability in a
difficult time.
has an eating disorder?
You will be affected by their behaviour and
there is a whole range of emotions you may
experience.
It’s common to feel annoyed that your brother/
sister is ‘getting away with‘ a lot of behaviour
that is an expression of their eating disorder,
and think that you would be treated more
harshly if you behaved in the same way.
You may also experience one or more of the
following:
• Adopting a carer’s role –becoming just
as involved and protective as parents.
• Experiencing the same grief and
stress as your parents.
• Feeling competitive towards your
brother/sister
• Avoiding the situation altogether
• Feeling jealous of the extra attention
your brother/sister receives
• Getting angry/confrontational
with your brother/sister
It’s important that you receive some help and
support for how you’re feeling. This could be
from other family members, friends, groups or
a counsellor. If you have another brother/sister
other – other than the person suffering from
the disorder-it might help to talk to them.
It might help to have an open and honest chat
with your brother/sister to tell them how you
feel. You might also like to spend some time
with them where you both agree not to talk
about eating disorders.
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
HELP AND SUPPORT
BEAT
0845 6341414
www.b-eat.co.uk
NSPCC
0800 1111
WWW.NSPCC.org.uk
GET CONNECTED
0808 808 4994
www.getconnected.org.uk
NHS DIRECT
0845 4647
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
THERE4ME
www.achance2talk.com
YOUNG MINDS
www.youngminds.org.uk
YOUTH2YOUTH
020 8896 3675
www.youth2youth.co.uk
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
Being a carer can be stressful or annoying, even
subconsciously, or it might lead to bullying or
problems at school, all of which can make you
feel horrible and wanting a way to cope. Stress
can make people do some dangerous things
such as self-harming, skipping school, or not
eating. It might even lead to depression.
If this is happening to you then you might need
some help.
I have had help from CAMHS. I started going to
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Service) a few months ago. It was mainly to do
with family and eating.
CAMHS is really helpful, they talk to you about
whatever problem you have and how to get
past it. I talk about things to do with being
a young carer, which I’ve found can have
an effect on how you feel, like stress or not
wanting to eat. They have explained the reason
for this, and how it can be something you can’t
help, but should still try to stop. They can be
quite disorganised, like telling us we have an
appointment when we don’t, sending letters out
to the wrong people, and always being late, but
overall they’re good.
They have talked to me about coping methods
like not wanting, or choosing not, to eat, and
how it might have something to do with my
caring role. Not eating much can be a coping
method because it can help you feel better
or more in control, and it might eventually
become a habit you feel used to and find hard
to stop. If you are comfortable doing it and find
that it helps then it can be a good way to cope,
even if it isn’t actually good for you. CAMHS
tries to help you improve these habits and find
better and safer ways to reduce stress. You can
see CAMHS if your doctor refers you to them,
but if you can’t then maybe ask a youth worker
at your school or even ask your GP for advice.
- Anonymous, 12
 EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS  EATING DISORDERS 
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