It's time to talk and do "just one thing"

That’s the theme for this year’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week starting today, Monday 22 February 2010.


“It’s time to talk about it” and do “just one thing” is focusing on making a difference and helping people who are struggling with an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are a serious mental illness affecting 1.6 million people in the UK. It is common belief that these illnesses only affect women, but statistics show that approximately ten per cent of people with eating disorders are male.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Eating Disorder Service treats adults experiencing all forms of eating disorders from mild to severe: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating.

The Trust’s service is run by psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and dieticians who provide a variety of treatments including individual therapy and group therapy. The service is easily accessed by GP referrals and self-referrals are considered.

“Eating disorders affect all age groups. It is commonly reported that young people suffer with eating disorders but it is not unusual to have an eating disorder in middle age,” said Sally Savage, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in eating disorder service with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

“It is important for people with eating disorders to remember that they are not alone, help is available from the many treatments available from the trust’s eating disorder service and that recovery is possible. Many people have succeeded with treatment and are now living healthy fulfilling lives.”

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are serious eating disorders and cause mental health conditions. Many factors include: stress, low self-esteem, low self-confidence which lead to depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and personality disorders.

Body image is vital to people with eating disorders, they generally have a distorted view of what they look like. Research has shown that younger men are becoming increasingly vulnerable to disliking their bodies and have been bullied or teased as children for being overweight.

Eating disorders can sometimes be difficult to understand and Northamptonshire Healthcare is encouraging people to be part of the theme “It’s time to talk about it” and do just one thing of raising awareness that eating disorders are serious illnesses, not lifestyle choices.

Northamptonshire Healthcare’s Eating Disorder service is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm at two locations in the county: Campbell House in Northampton and St Mary’s Hospital, Kettering.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week runs from Monday 22 February to Sunday 28 February 2010.