Eating – eating disorders and other eating difficulties
An eating disorder can be very distressing for someone, because it can cause them to behave differently towards food. Eating disorders can mean that a person worries about how much they weigh on a regular basis, and changes their eating habits due to feeling unhappy or concerned.
There are many different types of eating disorder. These include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and pica.
Why do young people develop an eating disorder?
- As a way to manage difficult emotions like stress, sadness, or worry
- Poor body image
- Dieting from a very young age
- Due to mental health conditions like anxiety or OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
- Knowing a close family member or friend who had an eating disorder
- Taking part in sports that put emphasis on being a low weight like ballet, gymnastics, or wrestling
In this section, we will cover anorexia nervosa and pica in more detail.
Anorexia nervosa
Physical effects:
- Weak heart
- Low blood pressure
- Weak bones
- Feeling lacking in energy, tired or dizzy
- Puberty beginning later than expected
- Hair growing on face, arms, and back
- Losing hair from head
- Difficulty regulating body temperature – feeling coldness easily
- Poor sleep quality
Psychological/mental effects:
- Low mood or depression
- Thoughts about self-harming
- Fearful/reluctant to put weight on
- Easily annoyed
- Challenges with concentration and memory
- Extreme focus on eating, food, and calories
- Rigid thinking patterns
Social effects:
- Overly focused with self
- Need for consistent routine
- Less interest in socialising with friends/family
Tips if you have an eating disorder:
- Tell a trusted person about what you are experiencing – your mum/dad, a teacher, another family member.
- Seek help as soon as you can. Visit your doctor as soon as possible to have the best and quickest chance of recovery.
- Eat meals at regular times each day.
- No food is off-limits – eat all foods in moderation.
- Eat a balanced diet, including fruit, vegetables, fat, protein, dairy, and carbohydrates. All of these keep our brains and bodies healthy.
- Try to sleep well and limit stress – to prevent symptoms getting worse.
- It can help to eat together with your family – their support can help.
- Give yourself patience and kindness. Recovery can be a long and challenging process. Be gentle with yourself during this time.
Pica
Pica is an eating disorder where an individual eats things that aren’t food. This can sometimes be damaging to a young person’s health and wellbeing. The behaviour usually has to be ongoing for at least one month to be diagnosed with pica.
Why do young people engage in pica behaviours?
- Unaware that what they are eating is not food.
- To self-soothe from anxiety or other emotional dysregulation.
- To get attention from others.
What conditions cause pica?
Different conditions might cause pica to develop. Such as:
- Hunger – eating items other than food might help the person feel full.
- Stress – young people who have poor living situations, or who have been treated poorly.
- Mental health conditions including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Developmental issues – learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Low amounts of zinc or iron in the body might be a cause also.
People with pica might eat things like:
- Hair
- Fabrics
- Paper/cardboard
- Ice
- Soap
- Metal
- Dirt
- Crayons
- Stones
Pica mainly affects young children, and is not diagnosed in children under 2 years old. It is important to tell the difference between pica and the normal behaviour that young children (under 1.5 years old) have of exploring the world by putting things in their mouth. Pica usually goes away as children grow up.
Dangers of pica:
Over time, pica can become dangerous to young people. Dangers include:
- Choking
- Poisoning
- Gut issues
- Infections
- Not enough nutrition
- Difficulties having bowel movements
- Damage to teeth
Tips for parents to manage pica:
- Put dangerous objects your child may try to eat out of sight.
- Give other safe options for your child to chew on.
- Distract from pica behaviour by drawing their attention to another activity.
- Ask your GP and other health professions for support for your child and yourself.
- Reach out to charities who can help, e.g. autism, mental health, learning disabilities.
Helpful resources
Helplines if you want to talk to someone confidentially:
Beat Eating Disorders: a Northern Ireland-based eating disorders helpline – telephone: 0808 801 0434 or email: NIhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Pica (for Parents) | Nemours KidsHealth
Pica (eating non-edible items) (cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk)
Understanding and managing pica (autism.org.uk)
