Local ServicesUrgent Help
Breathe Education
  • Early Years
    • Best Start for Life & Healthy Children Programme Birmingham
    • Adverse Childhood Experiences
    • Attachment
    • Emotional Intelligence & Social Confidence
    • Emotional Regulation
    • Resilience
    • Self Esteem
  • Primary School
    • Anger
    • Emotional Intelligence & Social Confidence
    • Emotional Regulation
    • Low Mood & Depression
    • Resilience
    • Self-Esteem
    • Trauma
    • Worry and Anxiety
  • Secondary School
    • Body Image
    • Eating Disorders
    • Low Mood & Depression
    • Psychosis
    • PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
    • Worry and Anxiety
  • SEND
    • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
    • Autism
    • Conduct Disorders
    • Neurodiversity
  • ToolKit
    • Resources
    • Adverse Childhood Experiences
    • Attachment
    • Bullying
    • Diversity and Mental Health
    • Engaging with young people on mental health
    • Gender Identity
    • Self-Harm
    • Social Media
    • Suicide
    • Talking to Parents
    • Transitions
  • Local support for schools
    • Mental Health Support Teams (MHST’s) in Birmingham
    • Wellbeing Census 2025
    • Teacher Wellbeing
      • The landscape of teacher wellbeing
      • Stress: spotting the signs
      • Understanding and managing stress
    • Research Hub
      • Introduction to research
      • Research Projects
      • Student Wellbeing: Reports and Statistics
    • Art and Wellbeing
    • TIAAS
    • Training
    • Zines and Emotional Literacy Project
  • Menu Menu
  • Twitter

Eating Disorders

What are eating disorders?

Eating Disorders are complex mental health illnesses that can affect people of any age gender or background.  They appear to be increasing especially in young people and it is estimated that there is 1.25 million people with some form of eating disorder in the UK (BEAT 2019).  There is no single cause for eating disorders and they can be hard to classify as a person may not have all of the symptoms that fit the diagnostic categories we have historically used.    

Bullying and Eating Disorders   

Bullying is of particular relevance to eating disorders as size and shape are common things for young people to focus on and feel vulnerable about.  What might seem like minor teasing might have negative effect on people that are vulnerable to developing eating disorders as these comments can act as to reinforce negative beliefs they may already hold on their own size and weight.  A young person does not need to be a particular size or shape for bullying to have an impact as many people with eating disorders have a distorted view of their physical bodies.   All forms of bullying have an association with low self-esteem, which in turn is associated with vulnerabilities to the development of eating disorders. 

What are the signs and symptoms of eating disorders?

Eating disorders are commonly thought of as clusters of symptoms that are commonly referred to as “types”.  You may notice that there are lots of overlaps of symptoms between eating disorder types which highlights how fluid eating disorder types can be, someone may even oscillate between types during the course of their illness.  As a teacher you only need to be aware of what eating disorders are and what support is appropriate for you to give in your role. 

Eating Disorders in Children 

Eating disorders can start emerging early, below are some characteristics of the different types of eating disorders.

It is useful to have some awareness around some of the signs of eating disorders.  Often there is a focus on the physical signs of eating disorders, however more obvious changes in weight and appearance are more associated with more established eating disorders.  For young people that might be developing an eating disorder is important to not simply rely on physical signs as the behavioural and psychological signs are often apparent in the earlier stages of illness. 


Behavioural

  • Not being truthful about eating / weight
  • Strict dieting
  • Counting calories
  • Avoiding eating with other people
  • Social withdrawal
  • Isolation
  • Mood swings
  • Disappearing soon after eating (purging)
  • Buying lots of food


  • Psychological
  • Excessive focus on body weight
  • Distorted perception of body shape / weight
  • Anxiety (around food / meal times)
  • Low confidence & self-esteem
  • Feelings of guilt & shame
  • Feelin out of control (especially with regards to food)
  • General poor mental health


Physical

  • Weight loss / Weight gain
  • Tiredness
  • Hair loss / poor skin condition
  • Stomach pains
  • Feeling cold / low body temperature
  • Swelling of hands & feet
  • Damage to teeth
  • Bloating
  • Constipation

Again, there is a lot of overlap between signs of eating disorders and types of eating disorder.  BEAT (A UK eating disorder charity) has a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms for each specific eating disorder type.

Teacher wellbeing 

Teachers play an invaluable role in assisting with their pupils. Whilst we are preparing ourselves to help other we must also look after ourselves, we’ve got some advice and guidance on this in the teacher wellbeing section. As with all matters of mental health taking time to gain awareness of conditions like eating disorders helps to build confidence in what to do and how to support early intervention and prevention.  

How to support 

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that always need professional mental health support. Teachers therefore are only expected to be alert to the early signs of eating sign and try and facilitate further professional support.   

Perhaps you notice a pattern of the signs mentioned above (for example maybe you notice they are avoiding mealtimes), then it is important to talk to them.  Don’t be afraid to ask them if everything is ok and if anything is worrying them, these simple steps can often facilitate conversations that can lead to a young person receiving help.  We’ve got some advice and guidance on  regarding their mental health that can give you some ideas on how to go about this and we outline the some of the potential support pathways you can suggest in the support section here. 

There are few things that are specific to eating disorders that can be helpful to consider when approaching someone you think may have one or be in the process of developing one; 

What if they do not want any help? 

None of us are able to solve every problem we face and sometimes a young person’s wellbeing becomes the most important focus. If you have serious concerns about a young person’s mental health you should contact your mental health representative in your school (sometimes this might be a headteacher or deputy head) or contact professional MH support.

What are eating disorders?

Eating Disorders are complex mental health illnesses that can affect people of any age gender or background. There is no single cause for eating disorders and they can be hard to classify as a person may not have all of the symptoms that fit the diagnostic categories we have historically used.

What are the signs and symptoms of eating disorders?

Behavioural: Not being truthful about eating / weight, Strict dieting, Counting calories, Avoiding eating with other people, Social withdrawal, Isolation, Mood swings, Disappearing soon after eating (purging) or Buying lots of food

Psychological: Excessive focus on body weight, Distorted perception of body shape / weight, Anxiety (around food / meal times), Low confidence & self-esteem, Feelings of guilt & shame, Feelin out of control (especially with regards to food), General poor mental health

Physical: Weight loss / Weight gain, Tiredness, Hair loss / poor skin condition, Stomach pains, Feeling cold / low body temperature, Swelling of hands & feet, Damage to teeth, Bloating, Constipation

How can teachers and schools support students with eating disorders?

  • Teaching health and nutrition in a way that is mindful that there may be class members who take it literally.
  • Being careful to ensure healthy eating messages are about achieving a healthy balance rather than inadvertently promoting a ban on sweets, cake, carbs and sugar.
  • Promoting body confidence and body diversity. Acknowledging that they are still growing and moving away from unhelpful or dangerous messages about BMI that do not take into account diversity, ethnicity, etc.
  • Promoting eating lunch. Consider initiatives that promote the fun, social advantages of eating lunch (e.g., “Let’s do lunch club”).
  • Promoting body acceptance between each other as a staff groups. Avoid corridor conversations often overheard by pupils that praise weight loss, will power to restrict food or dieting success.

Latest posts

  • 8 May 2025

    GCSE and A Level study leave

  • 8 May 2025

    International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is 17th May

  • 6 April 2025

    Mental Health Awareness Week is 12th – 18th May!

Featured Posts

  • 2 February 2021

    Anna Freud Mental health and wellbeing calendar: Summer term 2025

Got time to find out more?

Read more View Associated Resources

Resources for Eating Disorders

( resources found)

Audience

Location

Resource type:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- An Information Guide (CAMH)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Tips & guidelines

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- An Information Guide (CAMH)

Find out more
An Introductory Self-Help Course in CBT (Get Self Help)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Tips & guidelines

An Introductory Self-Help Course in CBT (Get Self Help)

Find out more
Eating disorders: what can schools do (Breathe Education)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Tips & guidelines

Eating disorders: what can schools do (Breathe Education)

Find out more
Eating Disorders. Know the first signs? (BEAT)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Poster

Eating Disorders. Know the first signs? (BEAT)

Find out more
Eating Disorder Information (Mentally Healthy Schools)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Website

Eating Disorder Information (Mentally Healthy Schools)

Find out more
Eating Disorders Help and Support (Eating Disorders UK)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Help and support

Eating Disorders Help and Support (Eating Disorders UK)

Find out more
Solihull Crisis Help (Solar)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: Solihul
Type: Crisis support

Solihull Crisis Help (Solar)

Find out more
General Mental Health Advice (The Mix)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Website

General Mental Health Advice (The Mix)

Find out more
Types of eating disorders (BEAT)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Website

Types of eating disorders (BEAT)

Find out more
Anorexia: Kirsty’s story (BBC)
Topic: Eating Disorders
For: Teachers
Coverage: National
Type: Classroom activity

Anorexia: Kirsty’s story (BBC)

Find out more
No resources found according to your criteria!

How useful was this info?

Click on a star to rate it!

© Copyright Breathe 2020- 2024
Terms and Conditions  |  Privacy Policy

About Breathe
  • Overview
  • Our team
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
Article Resources
  • Early Years
  • Primary School
  • Secondary School
  • Teachers Toolkit

supporters & partners                    

Scroll to top