Overview of Eating Disorders/Eating Difficulties

An eating disorder isn't always about weight or looks. A child who'll only eat a handful of 'safe' foods after a choking scare may have ARFID, and a young person with anorexia can be a perfectly ordinary weight. Boys are affected too. Anyone who doesn't match the usual picture can go unnoticed for far too long.

You'll get clear definitions of the five main eating disorders, including the difference between bulimia and binge eating disorder that trips so many people up. You'll also see how often eating disorders come alongside depression, anxiety, OCD and self-harm, so you know the wider picture you might be dealing with.

Timing makes a big difference. In one study, people with bulimia treated within five years of it starting had a recovery rate of 80%, against about 20% for those who waited 15 years.