DWD MH Factsheet #7 - Eating Problems Page 1

At DWD we cannot and will never try to replace a qualified medical team. We are not medically trained. The information contained within this factsheet is based on literature from reputable sources (e.g. national and international health services, established national and international charities etc) along with experience gained from our own lives as they’ve been affected by mental health problems.

We often hear the term Eating Disorders but Mind (mind.org.uk) also refers to Eating Problems and states the difference as:

“An eating disorder is a medical diagnosis based on your eating patterns, and medical tests on your weight, blood and body mass index (BMI). An eating problem is any relationship with food that you find difficult. This can be just as hard to live with as a diagnosed eating disorder.”

Eating problems are often associated with other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and obsessive behaviour and, whether you think you will be given a diagnosis or not, it’s important that you seek help. It’s been shown that treatments are far more effective the earlier they are accessed.

“Eating problems are not just about food. They can be about difficult things and painful feelings, which you may be finding hard to express, face or resolve. Focusing on food can be a way of disguising these problems, even from yourself.

Eating problems can affect you in lots of ways. You might:
- find it difficult to concentrate and feel tired a lot
- find that controlling food or eating has become the most important thing in your life
- feel depressed and anxious
- feel ashamed or guilty and scared of other people finding out
- feel distant from friends or family who do not know how you feel or who are
frustrated and upset that they can't do more to help you
- avoid social occasions, dates and restaurants or eating in public
- find it hard to be spontaneous, to travel or to go anywhere new
- find that your appearance has changed
- find that other people comment on your appearance in ways you find difficult
- find that you are bullied or teased about food and eating
- develop short or long-term physical health problems
- find that you have to drop out of school or college, leave work or stop doing things you enjoy.”

Mind