Eating disorders are characterised by an abnormal attitude towards food that causes someone to change their eating habits and behaviour. A person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food with damaging results to their health. Eating disorders include a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and socially.
How we can help
Talk to your GP sooner rather than later. As well as advice and support they can discuss onward referral to specialists.
Resources
Websites
The Beat Eating Disorders website has a wealth of good quality useful information and is particularly useful where you suspect someone may have an eating disorder.
Books
Daniel Le Grange and James Lock's 'Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder' explains the theory behind Family Based Treatment (FBT) very well, where patients are re-fed at home rather than as an inpatient.
'Anorexia and Other Eating Disorders' by Eva Musby, is written by a mum of an anorexic and gives lots of practical advice for FBT. The book is primarily aimed at those actively managing an acknowledged eating disorder.