Eating difficulties

Causes of Eating Difficulties

Many things can cause eating problems. Struggling with food or eating is never your fault.

You may develop an eating problem when things don’t feel right in other parts of your life. Some possible reasons are:

• Coping with feelings of sadness, worry or stress
• Life stressors such as exams, bullying, friendship or family relationship difficulties and bereavement or loss
• Personal factors such as having low self esteem, anxiety, depression, setting high personal standards, or identifying as LGBTQ+

Experiencing any one of these things does not necessarily mean that you will develop an eating disorder or difficulty. Some eating problems can be triggered by other mental health conditions.

Some autistic people can struggle with certain textures or food.

Symptoms of Eating Difficulties 

Here are some examples of eating behaviours you may struggle with:

• Eating only certain types of foods, not feeling hungry, or eating to cope with negative feelings
• Obsessing about your body shape or being afraid of gaining weight
• Constantly thinking about food and finding it hard to think about anything else
• Making yourself sick or using laxatives (drugs that make you poo more) to get rid of food from your body
• No longer enjoying eating socially or leaving the table quickly (to be sick or hide food)
• Feeling like eating is bad or that you should feel guilty for eating
• Limiting the calories or amount of food that you eat to help you feel more in control of certain situations
• Exercising a lot more than usual or feeling like you have to exercise after you’ve eaten

Not everyone who has an eating difficulty will experience these. If you are experiencing some of these behaviours it does not always mean that you have an eating difficulty, but it is important to get help and advice.

It is common to not realise you have a problem. Other people might say they are worried about you. This could make you feel angry and frustrated.

If you are worried please reach out for help. Speak to your doctor or a trusted adult.

What is an Eating Disorder?

Some eating problems can become serious mental health conditions. An eating disorder is a serious mental illness.  It is when you develop thoughts, feelings and eating behaviours which take over your life and can make you very unwell. You need the right help to recover so it is important to ask for help.

There are different types of eating disorders:

Anorexia nervosa: Trying to keep weight low by limiting calories, amount of food, exercising or all of these

ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder): Avoiding or limiting certain foods for a variety of reasons including sensory sensitivity, limited interest in food or worries about the consequences of eating

Binge eating disorder: Uncontrollable eating of large amounts of food 

Bulimia nervosa: Uncontrollable binges followed by purging

OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder): Disordered eating which doesn’t fit one of the other types

Pica: Eating non food items

All eating disorders are treatable and a full recovery is possible. It is important to notice that you might be having a difficulty and ask for help and advice as soon as possible. Health services take eating disorders very seriously and they will make sure that you are seen as soon as possible.

Impact of Eating disorders

Eating disorders can impact:

• Physical health, for example to you may become more tired. If you are female your periods might stop. You may need to be admitted to hospital
• Emotions, for example you may be more tearful or irritable
• Education, for example you may have difficulty concentrating or remembering
• General daily living for example hanging out with friends or spending time with family
• Taking part in activities