Eating disorders

Eating disorders

An eating disorder occurs when a person changes their consumption of food to a level that is harmful to their health and wellbeing. For example, they might diet, exercise or eat excessively; they may avoid situations that require them to eat with other people; or they might develop strong beliefs or patterns about food, like only eating certain things or at a certain time. 

Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).

Eating disorders are a potentially life-threatening mental illness which require serious attention. Getting a young person with an eating disorder the right treatment and support as early as possible is important to achieve better outcomes for the young person.