Description of Eating Disorders
A child or young person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and body shape, leading them to change their eating habits and behaviour. This often leads to making unhealthy choices about food which may result in damaging their health.
There are different types of eating disorders and they affect a person physically, psychologically and socially. The most common eating disorders are:
The causes of eating disorders are complex and unique to the individual.
Risk factors that can increase the likelihood of a person having an eating disorder include:
Treatment of Eating Disorders in CAMHS
If an eating disorder isn't treated, it can have a very negative impact on a person’s life. For example, it can disrupt relationships with family members and friends. The physical effects of an eating disorder can sometimes be fatal.
Treatment in our specialist eating disorder service will usually involve monitoring your physical health while helping you to deal with the underlying psychological causes. If your referrer is concerned that you may have difficulties relating to eating, you will be seen in your first ‘choice’ appointment by two therapists who specialise in treating eating disorders in young people. This appointment will involve general information gathering but also a detailed history of any eating related difficulties and the therapists will give immediate feedback at that time if they feel you have an eating disorder and stress the risks and seriousness of the illness if left untreated. The team involve the family in a family based treatment model for anorexia discussing how the eating disorder has affected you and your relationships. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) may also be used and this focuses on changing how you think about a situation, which in turn will affect how you feel and act. The team routinely refer to Seashore (or in some cases the G.P) for a physical health review. You will be offered immediate follow up usually on a weekly basis. Initially these appointments involve the family/carer. The initial phase of treatment would be to re-feed you and to work with helping the parents/carers to take charge of this. Each appointment involves weighing, educating and agreeing meal plans. In the first month we support a family meal. This is when we ask the family to bring in a meal that we observe and coach them in supporting you to eat. The family is given the opportunity to attend a multi family therapy group (they are informed of these in the first or second appointment) which are run twice a year and each family join at whatever stage of treatment they are at. Family appointments are offered continually until weight is stabilised. Once your weight is stabilised, you may be seen more individually although this is not always needed.”
Further information
To view MIND's leaflet on 'Understanding Eating Disorders' please click on the cover image below.