Eating Disorders and Recovery

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Eating disorders are commonly associated with female adolescents. Yet, this widely accepted stereotype does not match the reality, and is a dangerous assumption that shouldn’t diminish the seriousness of the illness.
The cliché of eating disorders being something that only affects the younger generation has led to many people ignoring signs and symptoms of eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious illnesses, and getting access to treatment as early as possible can give a person the best chance of making a full recovery.


Eating disorders can happen to anyone at any age. Typically, they start as an unhealthy coping strategy, which the person uses to try and manage overwhelming emotions and difficult situations. Regardless of age, gender or ethnic diversity, the symptoms and behaviours associated with eating disorders remain similar. It can have an equally devastating impact on any person’s quality of life.


What is an eating disorder?



A person with an eating disorder will have an unhealthy relationship with food. They may eat too much or too little, and become focused on their weight and body shape.

There are a number of different eating disorders and these include:

Anorexia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa

Binge eating disorder (BED)

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)


In a 2015 study to determine the prevalence of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa was found to affect around 0.4% of the population, bulimia nervosa 1.1%, BED 1.5% (1.1–2.0) and OSFED 3.2%.

Common myths related to eating disorders

Some of the common myths about eating disorders include the following:



A person with an eating disorder must be underweight – a person doesn’t necessarily have to be underweight to be struggling with an eating disorder



Eating disorders can only affect women – eating disorders can affect any gender. Beat has shown that 25% of those affected by eating disorders are male. NHS Digital data analysed by the Guardian has also found that the number of adult men being admitted to hospital with an eating disorder has risen by 70% over the past six years



Eating disorders are caused by the media – eating disorders can happen for many reasons. Our blog on the causes of eating disorders outlines the factors that can lead to the development of the illness



Eating disorders only affect young people – while eating disorders are commonly diagnosed in young people, they can happen at any stage in life. In the NHS’s 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, 6.4% of adults displayed signs of an eating disorder.











Spotting the early signs of an eating disorder



Family and friends are often the first to notice the signs of deteriorating mental health and abnormal eating behaviours. They are typically also the first to ask for support, and to encourage the person with the eating disorder to take initial steps to seeking treatment.



Having this strong support system can make a difference to whether someone actually does get appropriate treatment for their eating disorder and maintains their health afterwards.





Some people with the illness don’t reach out for support. They worry about how others will react, or don’t believe that they should have an eating disorder, as they don’t fit the stereotype.

It is important that anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder - or believes that they may have the illness - understands that they deserve to be listened to, and deserve to make a full recovery. When someone is worried about their unhealthy relationship with food, it is crucial that they speak out and get access to the many avenues of support that are available:



Beat’s helpline and webchat offer support and information for people affected by eating disorders



Your doctor can refer you for an assessment for specialist treatment



Eating disorder specialists can provide you with access to residential treatment programmes as well as day care and outpatient therapy packages.



Helping someone during their recovery journey



When a person is finishing their treatment, the thought of eating their first meal at home can be a daunting prospect. It can also be a stressful time for their family and friends, who may not know what to do, what to challenge, what is acceptable and what isn’t OK.



When family and friends participate in the treatment programme, this can equip them with the skills to effectively support the person as they return to home life and embark on their recovery. With treatment typically seen as the beginning rather than the end of this journey, a strong and knowledgeable support system is valuable. There will be times when the person becomes overwhelmed and feels threatened, and having their family and friends to offer care and support can give the person a greater opportunity to achieve a long lasting recovery from their eating disorder.



Seeking help for eating disorders can be a frightening prospect. But, it is important to remember that support is available to all ages, genders and ethnic diversities. Speaking out is a crucial first step that needs to be taken to help a person begin their journey to a full recovery.