All Conditions

Eating Disorders.

Disordered patterns around food, weight and body image — with serious physical and emotional consequences.

If a person has an unhealthy relationship with food and their body image, they may be struggling with an eating disorder. This can show up in many ways, including but not limited to: restricting food intake, being deeply conscious about calories, consuming large amounts of food and then dealing with shame and regret, trying to throw up or taking laxatives after eating and excessive exercise etc. Although eating disorders are usually associated with thinness, it is important to note that a person with any body type could be struggling with one of these conditions and it might not be possible to know just from looking at them. Due to fear of judgment around eating habits, people may begin to withdraw from friends and family. Symptoms such as long-term restriction of calories and/or excessive exercise can cause many physical health issues, such as gastrointestinal problems, bone density loss, frail hair, amenorrhea (stopped menstrual cycles), infertility, stroke or organ damage etc.

When to seek help

Since some of these behaviors can look like discipline and self-care on the outside, it can be tough to tell if you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder. If you find yourself thinking about your dietary habits and the way your body looks to the point that it disrupts your daily activities, it may be a good idea to seek professional help. Treatment is available for all types of eating disorders and chances of recovery are highest when such conditions are detected and treated as early as possible.

How we can help

Self-assessment scales

These are the same validated scales clinicians use. Your answers stay on your device and take a few minutes.

Common questions

I don't look underweight. Can I still have an eating disorder?
Yes. The DSM-5 explicitly removed the requirement of low BMI from the framing of anorexia, and the broader category Atypical Anorexia covers people with all the cognitive and behavioural features of anorexia at any body weight. Bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) can occur at any size. Body weight on its own is a weak indicator of whether someone is suffering. The relationship with food, the rituals around eating, the cognitive distortions, and the medical impact are what matter most clinically [1].
What treatment works for eating disorders?
It depends on the specific disorder, the severity, and the person's age. For adolescents with anorexia, family-based treatment (FBT, sometimes called the Maudsley approach) has the strongest evidence. For adults with anorexia, enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E) and specialist supportive clinical management are the standard options. CBT-E is also first-line for bulimia and binge eating disorder. Severe cases may require medical stabilisation or inpatient care first. Recovery is usually possible, but it tends to take longer than people expect, often several years, with relapse risk that needs ongoing attention.
Can eating disorders cause permanent physical damage?
Yes, and the long-term physical risks are often underestimated. Sustained restriction can cause irreversible bone density loss (osteoporosis), fertility problems, gastroparesis, and cardiovascular complications. Frequent purging damages tooth enamel and oesophageal tissue, and disturbs electrolyte balance. Severe electrolyte disturbances can be fatal. This is why early intervention matters so much. People who recover early, before chronic complications set in, usually recover medically as well as psychologically. Those who recover after years of restriction may be living with permanent physical effects [2].
My loved one has an eating disorder but won't acknowledge it. How can I help?
Direct confrontation usually does not work. Eating disorders thrive on shame, and head-on challenge tends to deepen secrecy rather than open conversation. What tends to help is expressing concern without commenting on their body or their food, removing food and body talk from the relationship as much as you can, and offering practical help to access professional support without pressuring them to commit to it. If you are the parent of a minor, you have considerably more leverage, and FBT explicitly equips parents to support refeeding. With adults, treatment ultimately depends on the person's own readiness, but consistent and non-judgmental support tends to shorten the timeline.