UK eating disorder awareness week is 24 February to 2 March and we would like to take this opportunity to share information about this range of conditions that affect many people in the UK.
Current research suggests that:
- Between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder
- Around 25% of those affected by an eating disorder identify as male
- Most eating disorders develop during adolescence, although there are cases of eating disorders developing in children as young as 6 and in adults in their 70s
- Eating disorders are most common in people between the ages of 16 and 40 years old
- Around 10% of people affected by an eating disorder suffer from anorexia nervosa
- The average age of onset for anorexia nervosa is 16 to 17 years old
- 40% of people affected by an eating disorder suffer from bulimia nervosa
- The average age of onset for bulimia nervosa is 18 to 19 years old
- The rest of sufferers fall into the Binge Eating Disorder or Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
- Research suggests that people who have family members with eating disorders are more likely to develop eating disorders themselves when compared to people who have no family history of these illnesses
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders
- Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in adolescence
- The earlier someone gets eating disorder treatment, the better their chance of recovery
These UK eating disorder statistics have been collated from data published by Beat, and Anorexia and Bulimia Care. Eating disorder statistics UK – Priory
Anorexia Nervosa: This disorder is where someone will regularly restrict their food intake, leading to them becoming significantly underweight. The mindset being a total fear of gaining any weight and becoming “fat”, the view they have of themselves when looking in the mirror will be very distorted. With this disorder the person may also binge eat or purge.
Other features may include regular excessive exercise, calorie counting and, in some cases, only eating certain foods in an organised way. Other themes can include loose clothing to hide weight loss and their body.
Some of the consequences include damage to major organs, heart, kidneys including muscle tissue, poor circulation and concentration, loss of hair, fertility issues, feeling cold a lot of the time.
This disorder has the highest rate of fatalities over other mental health conditions. However, the symptoms can be treated, and the risk to the individual can be greatly reduces with the right intervention/treatment.
Binge Eating Disorder: This involves a person regularly binge eating, often large amounts of foods in a short space of time. A person with this disorder may eat until they feel extremely uncomfortable, and in some cases go to extreme lengths to obtain, for example stealing or hiding food.
This can be distressing for the individual and could lead to feelings of shame, the difference between this disorder and Bulimia is that there isn’t any purging after a binge.
Binge eating often takes place in private to avoid those feelings of shame, some of the triggers for this disorder are sadness, loneliness, and anger. Some people often report feeling disgusted with themselves after a binge episode which only reenforces the negative cycle of emotions, therefore repeating the cycle of binging.
Some of the physical consequences to binge eating are damage to certain organs, diabetes, high blood pressure and weight gain which can lead to obesity.
Again, like anorexia these symptoms can be reduced and people can go on to lead a more healthier lifestyle with the right treatment programme and ongoing support.
Bulimia Nervosa: This disorder involves binging and purging, eating large quantities of food all in one go. Even eating foods that someone would normally avoid.
With Bulimia Nervosa an individual would make themselves sick, use laxatives, fasting and excessive exercising to avoid weight gain. Like other disorders feelings of shame and guilt feature with this illness and can leave a person in a distressed state.
A lot of people suffering with Bulimia are not generally underweight which makes their illness harder to detect. BUT that doesn’t mean that the individual isn’t obsessed with weight, shape or even eating in front of others.
Physical consequences of this disorder are irregular blood sugar levels, causing blackout episodes.
Damage to the stomach, oesophagus and colon due to laxative use and frequent vomiting. Deterioration to teeth (enamel erosion) from vomiting.
OFSED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder): This encompasses some of the other disorders, the signs and symptoms very similar to other disorders, for example, restriction of food intake or the reverse overeating. The feelings associated are the same, guilt, shame, distress, poor concentration. All of these perpetuate an individual’s cycle around their disorder.
There is no specific treatment for this particular disorder, so it should be treated in the same way it is identified with others.
ARFID (Restrictive Food Intake Disorder): This title also encompasses a variety of different eating disorders, which involves restricting the amount of food a person eats or eating only certain foods. It can also involve avoiding food intake.
The common motivation drivers for this are:
- Sensory issues, for example taste, texture, smell, appearance of the food.
- Concern around eating the food for fear of choking or vomiting.
- Little interest in eating
Someone with ARFID will more often than not have one or more of the above drivers at any given point. This differs from other disorders as fear of weight gain would NOT be a motivation to avoid eating. Some people with ARFID are also known to be on the autistic spectrum. These two specific conditions are known to co-exist. Autistic children are 5 times more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Some of the physical consequences are the same as other disorders, effects on major organs, weight loss. ARFID also has psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression or low mood, loss of confidence. Again with the right treatment intervention and support this can be resolved.
It’s fair to say that with all these disorders someone’s life can be significantly impaired due to the details outlined above. Managing the behaviours and often trying to hide them often involve the withdrawal from relationships, hobbies interests, social networks, education and the working environment. Living with someone who has disordered eating is extremely difficult and support for parents and others is available at the National Eating Disorders Association and BEAT.
We want to highlight that these disorders do not discriminate – men, children and young people can all suffer. Recent figures show a significant increase in young people having access to treatment programmes due to suffering with one of these disorders. It is crucial that the right support is available for everyone.
REMEMBER eating disorders are a serious mental health condition. It’s easy to think that it is all around eating habits when in fact it is all about how someone is thinking and feeling. Working with eating disorders, we have found that many clients often feel out of control in other areas of their lives or have perfectionist/idealist beliefs.
In the first instance contact your GP if you are concerned about yourself or someone you know.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, please see links below for help and support. BEATS runs regular online support groups Monday to Friday:
Andrea Whittaker-Ward
Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor
Further information:
Take a look on our website https://thewellnessconsultancy.org for helpful guidance or contact us for support and advice – email: wellness-consultancy@outlook.com.
ARFID & AUTISM | ARFID Awareness UK
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/mental-health-conditions/anorexia/