Page 87 - SafeCert Approved First Aid for Mental Health at Work (Level 3) | Trainers Manual

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Handouts

Eating Disorders
Teaching
Facts

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, although most likely it will happen
in young women aged 15-25

Over 1.1million people in the UK are directly affected by an eating disorder

What is it?

The term eating disorder covers a wide range of problems with food, including
starving (anorexia), and bingeing and purging (bulimia) and binge eating. The
reasons and causes are varied and complex. Eating disorders are often but
not always associated with negative body image and low self esteem. It can
also be an attempt to regain control when the person has been in a situation where their control has
been taken from them.

Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa Administration
Have a fear of gaining weight, they feel fat They may look overweight or underweight and it is
even when they have lost so much weight often difficult to detect. They have great difficulty
that it becomes obvious to others controlling their eating sometimes eating strictly or
giving in to periods of bingeing.
They often hide food; follow complicated The food they often eat is often high in The food they
plans to avoid food and to appear heavier often eat is often high in person begins to feel full
than they are. feelings of shame and guilt can overwhelm them. It
is those feelings that trigger the need to purge.
Some may pretend to have eaten when Continuous bingeing and vomiting can do serious
they have not. harm to the body. Regular use of laxatives can lead
to bowel disease and lack of essential minerals can
result in organ failure and death.
They may exercise vigorously, use
laxatives or make themselves sick in
order to lose more weight. Lesson Plans
They may starve themselves by only
eating tiny quantities of food.
A girl‘s period may stop or never start.

Recovery

Eating disorders develop relatively slowly, with the behaviours involved becoming more complicated.
It is important to get support as soon as possible. Treatment can include care in hospital, treatment
from GPs, dieticians, self help. Support from friends and family is very important.

For more information: www.b-eat.co.uk
Handouts s

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