Eating Problems

Eating problems involve an unhealthy relationship with food and eating, and often an intense fear of being overweight. Anyone can develop an eating problem, regardless of age, sex, or cultural or racial background. In the UK, anorexia affects one in every 200 women, one in every 2,000 men, and approximately 8% of women will be affected by bulimia at some point in their lives.

People with eating problems often say that their eating problem is the only way they feel they can stay in control of their life. But, as time goes on, it is the eating problem that starts to control you.

Typically:

• Drastic Change in Eating Habit - When a person is developing an eating disorder, they cannot help the fact that their eating behaviours will be abnormal. They will rarely or never eat with others, always finding an excuse for not eating, such as they aren't really hungry, they feel sick, or maybe they just ate.
• Negative Body Image (the way they view themselves) - Body image is defined as the way one perceives others to view them. Having bad body image would bring on waves of self-doubt in their appearance, and therefore cause this person to constantly try and lose weight.
• Exercise Behaviours - Compulsive exercising is another trait, especially in somebody who does not have a past of active exercising. Often the exercise schedule will also be overly harsh.
• Thoughts and Beliefs - Obsessing over thinness and thin people is also a sign, as is the belief that they do not deserve to enjoy their food, and so eat foods that they don’t actually like, and either do not eat enough or eat way too much.
• Emotional and Psychological - Mood swings are common, with the slightest issue triggering strong emotions and possibly tantrums or withdrawal.
• Social behaviours - A person with an eating disorder is likely to have a 'people-pleasing' type personality. When making everyone else happy is not an option, they often withdraw in whatever way they can at the time. Conversely, they will also become controlling in the area of food and dining choices when it comes to close friends and family. They tend to present an extreme of being needy and dependent, or very independent and rejecting of help.

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