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imbalances in the body
Fine downy hair growth and dry skin
Disturbed menstrual functioning
Lack of libido (sex drive)
Low blood sugar
Bowel disturbances
Fluctuations in body temperature
Poor circulation - numb, cold fingers and
toes
Psychological symptoms (anxiety and
panic attacks, hallucinations, insomnia,
depression)
Low blood pressure - which may cause
dizziness or fainting
What help is available?
There are many forms of help that you may
wish to consider. These include:Self Help Books
“Anorexia Nervosa: A survival guide for
families, friends and sufferers”;
Treasure - Psychology Press ISBN 086377-760-0
“Bulimia Nervosa & Binge Eating - A
Guide to recovery”; Cooper - Robinson
Publishing
ISBN 1-85487-171-4
“Getting Better Bite by Bite”; Schmidt &
Treasure - Lea Publishers; ISBN 0-86377322-2
“Hunger Strike”; Orbach - Penguin
ISBN 0-14-016978-4
BEAT - Beating Eating Disorders
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
Helpline for people aged 18 and over
Tel: 0845 634 1414 email: [email protected]
Youthline for people aged 25 and under
Tel: 0845 634 7650. TXT: 07786 20 18 20
email:[email protected]
Self Help Groups
Eating disorders
Self help groups are available for:
 people who may have an eating disorder
or are concerned about their relationship
with food
 relatives and friends of people who have
eating disorders
For information about self help groups,
Tel: 01922 607470 or 01384 325120
If you are not sure how to access help, or
what help is available locally, contact
Karen Higgins, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Eating Disorders Tel: 01922 607470
If you require this leaflet in another language
or format such as large print, braille or easy
read please contact the communications
team on 01384 325022 or email
[email protected].
Leaflet Control
Ref: CO19
Issue Date: January 2016
Version: 2
Review date: January 2017
General information
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are not just “slimmer's
diseases”, they are an expression of deep
emotional conflict, which results in an
individual experiencing a distressed
relationship with food. Eating itself may
provoke feelings of fear, anxiety, guilt and
self-hatred. The sufferer may also feel
unable to eat with others and become
socially isolated. Eating Disorders are
classified into three main groups, they are: Anorexia Nervosa
 Bulimia Nervosa
 Binge eating
Who do eating disorders affect?
Eating disorders are affecting more and
more people, both male and female, from
different cultural groups. There are many
theories that suggest different causes for
eating disorders, however certain triggers
are more common. These include:
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Sexuality and gender issues
Desire to be perfect
Maturity fears and puberty
Emotional or physical abuse
Relationship or family difficulties
Reaction to stressful life events
Anorexia Nervosa
 Drastic weight loss or staying
significantly below a healthy weight for a
long period of time
 Significant food restriction, changes in
food patterns, e.g. eliminating food
groups such as fatty meals or desserts
 An intense fear of gaining weight
 Claiming to feel fat even when
emaciated, or a belief that one area of
the body is too fat even when obviously
under weight
 Recurrent episodes of binge eating
 A sense of lack of control over eating
e.g. feeling that you cannot stop eating
or control how much you are eating
 Recurrent compensatory behaviour in
order to prevent weight gain, such as
self-induced vomiting, misuse of
laxatives, diuretics, enemas, fasting or
excessive exercise
 The binge eating and compensatory
behaviours both occur, on average, at
least twice a week and have been
apparent for at least three months
 Unhappiness with your body shape and
weight takes control of your food intake
amount of food that is larger than most
people would eat under similar
circumstances
 Feeling that you cannot stop eating, or
control what or how much you eat
The binge eating episodes are associated
with three (or more) of the following:
 Eating more rapidly than usual
 Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
 Eating large amounts of food when not
feeling hungry
 Eating alone because of being
embarrassed by how much you are
eating
 Feeling disgusted with yourself,
depressed or guilty after eating
 Marked distress about binge eating
 Occurs on average, at least two days
per week and has been present for at
least six months
 Is not associated with regular use of
compensatory behaviours, e.g. purging,
fasting or excessive exercise
 The binge eating does not occur
exclusively during the course of
Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa
Binge eating
What are the consequences of
starvation?
Recurrent episodes of binge eating. This is
characterised by both of the following: Eating in a short period of time, an
 Tooth decay and gastric erosion
 Mouth ulcers and swollen cheeks
 Blood disturbances and mineral
Bulimia Nervosa