How we support young people with eating difficulties

People with eating difficulties may be diagnosed with conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder or Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). 

But not everyone with eating difficulties has an eating disorder. Some may be experiencing what we call ‘disordered eating’ – patterns of eating, thoughts or behaviours around food that have become distressing or unhealthy but may not meet the criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder. 

Whatever the diagnosis, eating difficulties can take many forms: 

• Changes in eating habits | Restricting food, skipping meals, bingeing, making themselves sick, avoiding particular foods or becoming increasingly rigid about what or when they eat. 
• Thoughts and feelings | Worrying frequently about food, weight or body image, feeling guilt or shame after eating, fearing certain foods or getting anxious around mealtimes. 
• Other changes | Exercising excessively, avoiding social situations that involve food, developing an increasingly limited diet or becoming preoccupied with routines around eating. 

There’s rarely one simple explanation behind it. Eating difficulties may be connected to anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism, bullying, difficult relationships or experiences that leave a young person feeling overwhelmed or out of control. Sensory sensitivities, fears of choking or vomiting, physical illness or neurodiversity can also play an important part. 

Understanding what’s happening for that particular young person is often more helpful than focusing on the eating behaviour alone.