Binge Eating Disorder

You wouldn’t expect to see all of these signs as some are related to different types of eating disorders and even just one or two of them can indicate a serious underlying problem so it’s really important to take them seriously.

Weight loss

This is probably the most obvious warning sign to look out for. Any pupil who rapidly loses a large amount of weight should be followed up on. Occasionally there will be an alternative medical explanation, but in many cases it is a classic symptom of anorexia. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s important to remember that none of these factors mean that a young person WILL develop an eating disorder – they’re simply risk factors and a young person who has a combination of the different factors that we’re going to discuss may be more likely to develop an eating disorder than their peers, so it’s worth being aware of them.

This post looks at social factors – how social factors such as peer influences, group involvement and so on, might contribute to a young person developing an eating disorder. You might also be interested in reading the posts about Family Factors and Personality Factors.

Being bullied, teased or ridiculed due to weight or appearance

Bullying or teasing generally can make a young person more likely to develop mental health issues. If that bullying is specifically orientated around their weight then it is far more likely to act as a contributing factor towards the development of an eating disorder. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s important to remember that none of these factors mean that a young person WILL develop an eating disorder – they’re simply risk factors and a young person who has a combination of the different factors that we’re going to discuss may be more likely to develop an eating disorder than their peers, so it’s worth being aware of them.

This post looks at Family factors – how a young person’s home environment or their relationships with their parents or carers might have an impact on their likelihood of developing an eating disorder. You might also be interested in reading the posts about Personality Factors and Social Factors.

A home environment where food, eating, weight or appearance have a disproportionate significance

Some families place a huge significance on food, eating, weight and appearance. This isn’t necessarily encouraged of the children in the family but having a mother or father who spends a lot of time worrying about their weight, exercising or dieting to influence their shape can rub off on children. Other families specifically encourage their children to eat less or lose weight or exercise to stay fit or lose weight. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s important to remember that none of these factors mean that a young person WILL develop an eating disorder – they’re simply risk factors and a young person who has a combination of the different factors that we’re going to discuss may be more likely to develop an eating disorder than their peers, so it’s worth being aware of them.

This post looks at personality factors – those factors related to a young person’s characteristics or personality traits that might make them most likely to develop an eating disorder. You might also be interested in reading the posts about Family Factors and Social Factors.

Difficulty expressing feelings and emotions

Young people who are unable to express their feelings or emotions very well may turn to food as way of expressing themselves. This might not make immediate sense to you – but think about how often we console ourselves with a chocolate bar, an ice cream or a packet of crisps when we’re feeling down in the dumps about something. Eating disorder sufferers take this quite normal behaviour to a whole new level, using food to help them control and express their emotions. Read the rest of this entry »

Food is used as a coping mechanism

There are three major types of eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. What they’ve all got in common is that the sufferer uses food and their weight as a way of coping with any problems or difficulties they might be having.

Eating disorders are a serious mental health issue

Eating disorders affect up to 5% of the population and are a serious concern. Some people wrongly dismiss them as fads or phases that teenagers go through but this is inappropriate as eating disorders can destroy lives. In fact, 10% of anorexics die of complications of the disease or suicide – this is the highest fatality ratio of any mental health disorder. Read the rest of this entry »