This page is designed to be a step-by-step guide for you to talk you through the possible steps you might want to take if you are worried about disordered eating, displaying eating disorder behaviours, have an eating disorder or supporting someone with an eating disorder.
Think you have an eating disorder? Jump to the 'For those living with an eating disorder' section on this page.
Supporting someone with an eating disorder? Jump to the 'For those supporting someone with an eating disorder' section on this page.
We have a types of eating disorder page which the different types of eating disorders and their common symptoms. It can be helpful to explore them and see if any symptoms resonate with you. This can help you to understand your experiences, thoughts and feelings.
If you still aren’t sure whether you have an eating disorder, we would always recommend getting an opinion from a healthcare professional such as your GP.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your relationship to food, we would advise you to reach out to your GP to see what advice and support they are able to offer. We have a GP leaflet that can help explain to your GP the importance of support and treatment for those with eating disorders. It also has a section busting the myths around eating disorders. For instance, there is a misconception that you need to be underweight to have an eating disorder which is not true, and the leaflet will help challenge these beliefs.
If, while seeking help, you are denied treatment or facing a decision like not being referred for an assessment, you can challenge that decision. This can be done in multiple ways; head to our 'Overturning bad decisions and understanding good decisions' page on our website.
If you’re worried you may have an eating disorder, telling someone can feel daunting.
But it’s important so that you don’t have to face the struggle alone. Recovery can feel challenging but opening up to others allows opportunity for support, helping you feel understood and encouraging you to seek help when needed. If you’re worried about telling someone you think you have an eating disorder, our ‘How to tell someone you have an eating disorder’ page can help you take that first step to start the conversation.
Our HelpFinder tool is a searchable database of help and support services for people with eating disorders in the United Kingdom. To use Helpfinder, you need to insert your age, postcode and accept the disclaimer. You’ll see lots of different services in your area and some of the options available may include Beat, NHS, private and external services.
You are strongly advised to check that the service is appropriate for your specific requirements, and that the individual, group or organisation is currently registered with the relevant professional body.
Head to our Helpfinder via our website.
Every week, we run several online support groups for anyone who has or thinks they may have an eating disorder (no diagnosis is needed). Our online support groups are a supportive and judgement-free space where you have the opportunity to get peer support from those who understand what you’re going through.
All the groups can be found in our ‘Online support groups’ page on our website.
We know that recovery from an eating disorder can be difficult. We're here for you, at any stage of your journey. We provide Helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are on your journey.
If you have any questions about eating disorder support and our Helpline, we have a 'Frequently asked questions' about the Helpline page on our website.
Support on the Helpline is available by phone, email, webchat, through our social media accounts and by letter.
Eating disorders are complex and the advice on how to support someone will likely be different, depending on what eating disorder the person you care about may have. As a starting point, it may be helpful to look at our ‘types of eating disorder page’ to see which eating disorder they may be experiencing. This page lists many eating disorders and their common symptoms. By doing this, you can get an idea of what support the person you care about may need.
If you’re still unsure if the person you care about has an eating disorder, that’s okay - we always recommend getting an opinion from a healthcare professional.
If the person you care about has a possible eating disorder, they should see a GP to see what support and advice can be offered. This may include monitoring from the GP or a referral to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), an eating disorder team or a community mental health team. Listen to the person’s preferences and offer to attend their appointment with them if appropriate, as it can help them to feel supported.
We have a GP leaflet that can help the person you care about explain to their GP the importance of support and treatment for struggling with their eating behaviours. You can access our GP leaflet through our 'Downloads and Resources' section on our website.
Eating disorders are complex and it can be really difficult to know how to support someone who may have an eating disorder.
As a starting point, we recommend signing up to POD (Peer support and online development), our e-learning platform for parents and carers. Through POD, you can access a wide range of interactive e-learning modules; tha platform uses a combination of written, visual, and video-based learning tools where you’ll learn more about the basics of eating disorders, the psychology behind what the person you care about is experiencing, and what to expect from treatment.
You’ll also learn about useful tools to support the person you care about in recovery, such as motivational interviewing, the stages of change model, and how to avoid accommodating or enabling behaviours.
You can access POD via our website.
In addition to POD, we also have an online platform for school professionals called School Professionals Online Training (SPOT). Designed for staff in primary and secondary schools, this online resource helps increase awareness and understanding of eating disorders, including how to recognise early warning signs in school-aged children. You can access SPOT via our website.
You are strongly advised to check that the service is appropriate for the person you care about specific requirements, and that the individual, group or organisation is currently registered with the relevant professional body.
We provide Helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. If you’re supporting someone with an eating disorder, you are welcome to contact us for support.