Eating Disorder: Types, Causes, Signs, Treatment, Prevention in Children, Teens & Adults (Somebody I know has ED)

If you are not sure how to define eating disorder, the answer is the following - eating disorders are mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person's health. Here is the list with descriptions of the most known eating disorders, where you can recognise your problem:

• Binge eating disorder (BED) — eating a large amount of food (snacks, etc.) in a short period of time;
• Anorexia — eating very little and therefore having a low body weight (in the most of the cases, but not always);
• Bulimia — eating a lot and then trying to rid of the food;
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder — when consumption of certain foods is limited and based on the food's appearance, smell, taste, texture, or a past negative experience with the food.

Many people don't know what's an eating disorder and how dangerous It may be. If you are struggling with an eating disorder or if you are the one who wants to help someone with this problem, visit EDReferral.com. It is an eating disorder referral and informational centre, where you can find a lot of helpful information, such as symptoms of eating disorders, tips on how to prevent eating disorders, or methods of treating eating disorders.

A good eating disorder medication, if you want to help a person with an ED, is to divert their attention on other things, instead of on food, because they already have some troubles with food and they know it. So, it'd be better if you focus on other things from your or the person's personal life (which may be a good therapy for eating disorders), because in this way you may help them think less about food.

If the person is too obsessed with food, that may indicate that the person needs professional help.

Dating a girl with an eating disorder (or a boy), or you have a friend with this disorder? The video below may help you, and them, fight against this disorder.

"Life Without Ed" is a book written in a very unusual way, in which eating disorder is compared to a bad relationship. It is great for people with different eating disorder types and it also has sections for people who want to help their friends with this problem. Basically, it serves as a therapy for eating disorders.

“You” statements like, “You need to eat.” Or, “You actions are irresponsible,” is one of the "what not to say to someone with an eating disorder" things, because there are many eating disorder causes, including some emotional. Rather than that, use “I” statements. For example: “I’m concerned about you because I haven't seen you eating for too long.” Or, “it makes me afraid to hear you vomiting.”

Note: You can also recommend them watching an eating disorder documentary to hear different, mostly inspiring, stories from other people.

If you are dating someone with an eating disorder, e.g. dating a girl with an eating disorder (or a boy), or if you know such a person that has any of the types of eating disorders (e.g. binge, bulimia, anorexia, etc.), consider watching the video below, which will help you understand what they are going through and how to approach them.

If you know or dating someone with an eating disorder and want to help them, reading "Wasted Updated Edition: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia (P.S.)" can be very helpful. It is a well-written fiction book that describes the life of a girl with eating disorder. Better not to give it to the person with eating disorder as it can trigger some mental troubles while they are still suffering.

If someone decided to share their problems caused by eating disorder with you, try to listen without any judgement and make sure the person knows you care. If your friend or relative slips up on the road to recovery, remind them that it doesn’t mean they can’t quit their ED for good.

If someone tells you about their problems with eating behaviour, don't react with a phrase like "But you look normal!" and don't take their words unseriously because of their body. People with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes.

Otherwise, you will strengthen their desire to be thin. If the person with ED says that he or she feels fat or wants to lose weight, don't say "You're not fat." Instead, suggest them to explore their fears about being fat, and what they think they can achieve by being thin. It will be much more helpful.

Most of the people with ED are not self-esteemed and feel weak. So tell them how you love them and why they are so unique, inspire the person with your words and try to focus on their best characteristics that are not related to their body and look.

Set a good example by eating healthily, regularly and not worrying about calories in food, exercising, managing stress without food, also eat something tasty and not so healthy from time to time and be happy about it. It will show the person with ED that food can be treated normally.

The person knows already about how his or her body looks. Even if you are trying to compliment them, comments about weight or appearance only strengthen their obsession with body image and weight.

When you try to discuss this problem with the individual for the first time, don't be surprised if they reject your expression of concern or even if they get angry. There is a lot of embarrassment and pain that goes hand in hand with eating disorders. It's also very important not to rush the person, otherwise, the things can get worse. So better understand that it will take time for the person to make changes.

The longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the more difficult it will be to overcome later, so force your friend or relative, or loved one to see a health professional. This way you will help a lot.

Eating disorders are often a cry for help, and your loved one will appreciate knowing that you are concerned. But don't try to push on them or to control them too hard.

Don't criticise their eating habits, it will make things even worse. People with eating disorders are trying to be in control as they don't feel in control of their life. So better just try to be supportive and show them with your own easy attitude to food, how easy life could become without their ED.

If you say something like "Everything would be better if you just eat normally", it won't work and can make things even worse, because this way you show to the person with an ED that their problem isn't a big deal. Eating disorder is a serious mental problem that can't be solved so easily.

It's hard to be supportive and helpful to a person with an ED if your know about this problem only from the multiple myths and stereotypes. So it's better to get to know more information about it, for a start read an article on WikiPedia.

If someone you know has/might have an eating disorder, point them to this page on Solutionbay and let they find some solutions for themselves.