Sometimes if you’re unhappy with your life, you may try to take control through what you eat. This may mean controlling and restricting the amount of food you eat dramatically, using this as a way to cope. This may develop into an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

Often eating disorders are about being in control rather than a desire to be thin, often anorexics or bulimics are experiencing other problems in their lives and the only thing they can control is their food.

What Is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia is where you restrict the amount you eat; this is generally to as little as possible, often at a very dangerous level. People with anorexia often become obsessed with calorie and fat content of food and exercising. It starts off as being about controlling food, but after a while the disorder takes over and you are unable to think rationally so you may not be able to see that you are making yourself so ill.

If you are concerned you must seek advice and treatment from your GP or other health professional.

What Is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia is different from anorexia in that involves binging (excessive eating). It often develops in response to emotional difficulties such as a family change or bereavement. The binges usually involve eating lots of ‘comfort food’, often high in calories. Eating so much food can make you feel guilty so you then ‘purge’, that is get rid of the food either by making yourself sick or using laxatives. 

If you are concerned you must seek advice and treatment from your GP or other health professional.

Other Eating Disorders

Other eating disorders include binge eating disorder, where you binge on lots of food but don't do anything to get rid of it afterwards, like making yourself sick. Compulsive overeating is where you eat lots when you are not hungry. Both of these are serious conditions and need to be treated professionally.

Sometimes people assume that it is only girls that are affected by eating disorders, but guys can get eating disorders too.

Men can get eating disorders too!

If you would like to know more about how eating disorders can affect guys then visit the Men Can Get Eating Disorders Too! website to find out the facts, what the signs and symptoms are and read stories of real guys who have struggled with eating disorders.

Talk To Someone

Eating disorders can be very serious conditions, in particular anorexia where there is a risk of death because of starvation. They can take a while to treat, and may require going into hospital. It’s not really something you can treat yourself so professional help is vital, but often it’s hard to see this when you are anorexic or bulimic.

Your doctor should be able to talk things through with you, refer you to a specialist or counsellor, or decide if you need medication.

beat

Beat (beating eating disorders) offer support, information and advice for people suffering from eating disorders and their families and friends, including some local groups in Scotland. If you are unsure about speaking to your GP then speaking to the beat could be a good first step. There are two helplines:

beat Youthline: 0845 634 7650  - for young people up to 18 years (Mon to Fri 4.30 - 8.30pm, Sat 1.00 - 4.30pm)
beat Helpline: 08456 341 414 - for over 18s (Mon to Fri 10.30am - 8.30pm, Sat 1.00 - 4.30pm)