Eating disorder advice

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses which can cause significant harm but which can also be treated successfully. They affect around 1.25m people in the UK, 25% of who are male.

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses which can cause significant harm but which can also be treated successfully. They affect around 1.25m people in the UK, 25% of who are male.

There is no one single cause of an eating disorder; rather, a combination of social, genetic and psychological factors can contribute. Many professionals consider them to be a maladaptive coping mechanism: disordered thoughts and actions that lead to compulsions that overtake daily life. 

Disordered eating serves a purpose, to reduce levels of anxiety and stress in the short-term, as the individual channels their energy into a preoccupation with food and eating and often exercise. A troubled relationship with food is often a symptom of an underlying problem.   

To find out more about the different types of eating disorders follow the links in the resources section.

Do I have an eating disorder?

There are some signs that you may have an eating disorder or may be developing one. These include:

  • Preoccupation with food and eating 
  • Low confidence and anxiety – particularly when eating in front of others 
  • Fear of gaining weight or pursuit of thinness
  • Distorted perception of body shape or weight 
  • Inability to eat intuitively or reluctance to respond to hunger cues 
  • Other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder 
  • Your relationship with food or exercise is making you unhappy and/or controlling your life day to day – for example you are not attending events as a result
  • You are feeling physically unwell which you think may be related to your behaviours around food or exercise.

There is evidence to show that most people with eating disorders are not underweight and it’s important to remember that eating disorders manifest in different ways. They are unique to the individual and anyone can develop one. This means that you may not “tick all the boxes” of a diagnosis. 

The fact that you are looking at this part of our website suggests you have some concerns and as such it is worth investigating further. See the resources section for a selection of resources to help you understand eating disorders, your own relationship with food and to help you to help yourself.  

You can also make an appointment to discuss things at the Centre for Wellbeing.

Please see further information on how we keep students who have an eating disorder safe at Surrey.

Eating disorder and body confidence resources

A selection of resources to help you understand eating disorders, your own relationship with food and your body, and to help you to help yourself.

Eating disorders generally

Types of eating disorder

To find out more about the different types of eating disorder, follow the links below.

About eating disorders — watch

  • Panorama documentary: Men, Boys and Eating Disorders
  • Louis Theroux documentary: Talking to Anorexia
  • Kirsty's story is a film is aimed at younger people from BBC Teach: Anorexia 
  • Dave Chawner uses comedy as a tool to engage audiences, remove the stigma surrounding eating disorders and explain his battle with anorexia. My Battle With Anorexia 
  • BBC article and short film about one woman’s struggle with Bulimia
  • Male bulimia — NHS video
  • Storytelling company Cut set out to ask people who’ve lived with an eating disorder to respond to the word "fat"
  • This BuzzFeed video takes a closer look at anorexia through the eyes of the Whisper App. The app is a safe place for people to share stories and confessions anonymously.

About eating disorders — read or listen

Dieting

Recovery

Body image and social media

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