Eating disorder awareness week is about shedding light on various eating disorders and educating people who perhaps don’t face these challenges on the different disorders that are not always visible. It is vitally important to educate and raise awareness about eating disorders because it is estimated that as many as 1.25million people in the UK currently have an eating disorder (Beat ED). Eating Disorders are complex by nature, however often through traditional media and digital outlets we are often only exposed to the most common eating disorders.
Eating disorders are a group of serious mental illnesses and many of those affected use disordered eating to cope with difficult, traumatic, or challenging situations present in their lives. It is important to remember that most eating disorders are not about the food itself, but about the feelings attached. The adverse effect of each disorder can have extreme consequences on a persons life, from physical and emotional to interpersonal and relational.
Eating disorders can affect anyone at any age, about both men and women are affected. In fact research supports findings that as many as a ¼ of those affected by eating disorders are male.
The national charity for eating disorders in the Beat UK cites 8 types of eating disorders, currently recognised with diagnostic criteria, and a 9th attributed to correspond with Diabetes management.
These are,
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
ARFID
Binge Eating Disorder
Orthorexia
OSFED
PICA
Rumination Disorder
And,
Type 1 Diabetes with an eating disorder
This week is very important to spread awareness and shed light on all eating disorders and the people who they affect directly as well as those who love and support them through their journe into remission and hopefully into recovery.
If you need help with any of these eating disorders or you’re concerned about someone close to you, there is always help. Here are some helplines that could assist you. They can all be viewed on this page: Help For Eating Disorders UK
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