Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders are serious, complex and potentially life-threatening mental illnesses. They are characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts and attitudes to food, eating, and body weight or shape. Eating disorders have detrimental impacts upon a person’s life and result in serious medical, psychiatric and psychosocial consequences.

Eating disorders are common and increasing in prevalence. There is a lifetime estimated prevalence of 8.4% for women and 2.2% for men.

Eating disorders do not discriminate and can occur in people of any age, weight, size, shape, gender identity, sexuality, cultural background or socioeconomic group.

• Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
• Bulimia Nervosa (BN) 
• Binge eating disorder 
• Other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED)
• Diabulimia
• Rumination disorder
• PICA
• Avoidant and Restricting Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

          (For more information see leaflets below)

For adults with Anorexia nervosa NICE recommends one of the following: Individual eating-disorder-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT‑ED); Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA); Specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM). 

For children and young people with anorexia nervosa, NICE recommends Anorexia-focused family therapy (FT‑AN), delivered as single-family therapy or a combination of single- and multi-family therapy. 

Binge-eating-disorder-focused guided self-help programmes and CBT-ED recommended for children and adults with Binge eating  disorder. 

For adults with Bulimia nervosa, NICE recommends Bulimia-nervosa-focused guided self-help programmes or individual CBT-ED. Whereas for children  and young people with Bulimia Nervosa NICE recommends bulimia-nervosa-focused family therapy (FT‑BN).

For people with OSFED it is recommended to offer treatment for the eating disorder it most closely resembles.

Eating disorders are associated with serious medical and psychological complications.

A person with an eating disorder may experience long-term impairment to social and functional roles, and the impact may include psychiatric and behavioural problems, medical complications, social isolation, disability and an increased risk of death as a result of medical complications or suicide. 

The impact of an eating disorder is not only felt by the individual, but often by that person’s entire family or circle of support. The impact may lead to caregiver stress, loss of family income, disruption to family relationships and a high suicide risk.

Therefore it is imperative to seek help as soon as you or your family have noticed changes in your eating, body image, weight or cognitions (thinking) in the areas listed above.