Eating Disorders

Many people are subject to the common misconception that calories are made equal, but what they do and the benefit that they provide to the body is not the same. Our bodies need a vast mix of vitamins, minerals and fibre to function, and some foods offer us a higher nutrient density than others. For example, strawberries are a great source of vitamins C and K, fibre, folic acid, manganese, potassium and phytonutrients (which are what makes them bright red). You can therefore say a strawberry is nutrient dense. Bread on the other hand, as a processed product, is not; [...]

‘When a young person is bullied they can be left feeling isolated and not good enough, with low self-esteem. Sometimes the behaviour they develop can be a way of putting control back in to a world that they feel they don’t have any control in. This can manifest itself in disordered eating by overeating or restricting their eating to any unhealthy level.’ – Sallie Kemp, Therapist Unfortunately, bullying in schools is more common than we like to admit. Below are a few statistics from the 2016 annual bullying survey. 1.5 million young people (50%) have been bullied within the past [...]

There are more resources available to you to help recognise, support and treat those who need it. Rewrite Your Story offers training, awareness and prevention through educational seminars on how to recognise and support a young person with eating problems, alongside educational school assemblies, and one to one support. To enquire further email connect@rewriteyourstory.org.uk

Teachers are on the frontline of eating disorder prevention and awareness. Daily interactions with children and young people, the demographic with the highest risk of developing eating disorders, put teachers and professionals in a unique position. There are plenty of subtle signs that someone you treat or teach could be suffering from or developing a potential eating disorder. Please see the warning signs on our ‘About Eating Disorders’ page. There are also some signs that might be more obvious to spot in school. They can include; Decreased concentration The brain struggles to function at its previous level if it does [...]

Over the course of 2016/17 our colleagues at RWYS have been developing a groundbreaking whole system approach to supporting, promoting and protecting the emotional wellbeing of children and young people with eating disorders, their families and other professionals. PETS 1 & 2 Psycho-Educations Therapeutic INtervention Strategy (PETS for short) Is support that extends beyond the reach of traditional services, recognising that early intervention is key and early results support this. Read more about our pilot project and the outcomes we have achieved through PETS Interim report. Download it here. EEDR The European Eating Disorders Review journal (EEDR) is Beat’s bi-monthly academic [...]

Getting Help... Therapy Partners Their team of qualified, friendly professionals offer a variety of services for those suffering from and affected by eating disorders, including group and individual therapy, training for schools and organisations, workshops and seminars. Visit the website Finding Help Find Get Give is an online directory of mental health support services that work with 13-25 year olds. One of the websites unique selling points is that young people can give feedback on the services they’ve received. Their database is constantly growing, and offers quick access to a range of services for different mental health issues. If you are [...]

Here you will find links to helpful websites and services specifically aimed at helping those with and affected by eating disorders. Book an eating disorder awareness training for your school or organisation – connect@rewriteyourstory.org.uk Recommended books and guidance Eating Disorders: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Children and Young People (CBT with Children, Adolescents and Families) – Simon G Gowers and Lynne Green Overcoming Binge Eating: A Comprehensive Guide to Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Your Overeating Disorder – Edward Standmore Overcoming Perfectionism: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques (Overcoming Books) – Roz Shafran, Sarah Egan and Tracey Wade The Clinician’s [...]

As a family member, friend or carer of someone suffering from an eating disorder, you are not alone. Eating disorders can have a huge impact on the lives of the people around the sufferer, which is why support, counselling, individual and family therapy is very important to help with some of the feelings and emotions that arise. These can include; Self blame Depression Shame Sense of loss Confusion and hopelessness Isolation Anxiety If you are experiencing any of these or if you think someone that you know might be, please contact Rewrite Your Story today for help at connect@rewriteyourstory.org.uk Do’s [...]

Being consistently underweight can cause long term health problems, will affect all your body systems including your physical, psychological and social functioning and even change the way you are as a person. Some of the effects described here are direct effects of sustained under-eating rather than a low weight and can affect anyone who is markedly under-eating regardless of their weight. PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS Thinking -  Your brain needs a lot of energy to function properly so without adequate energy your thinking will become rigid and inflexible and you are unable to switch easily between subjects. -  Making decisions also becomes [...]

Being consistently underweight can cause long term health problems, and have an effect on all of your bodily functions, including physically, psychologically and socially. Psychological effects Thinking: Difficulty in decision making Pre-occupation with food Disinterest in hobbies and activities Less spontaneous Feelings: Easily irritated or upset Isolated from friends and family Unwilling to maintain friendships Behaviour: Obsessional, ritualised behaviour and routines Setting rigid rules around what you must not eat or must not do A need to be clean and tidy or hoarding behaviour Physical effects Heart and Circulation: Loss of heart muscle Lower blood pressure and pulse Heart beat [...]