What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are mental health disorders characterized by persistent and abnormal eating-related behavior that significantly impairs an individual’s physical and mental health. With an eating disorder, a person is unable to eat or keep food down for a variety of reasons (e.g., pain, fear of swallowing, fear of weight gain), often causing mood problems and interfering with their ability to function in everyday life.
Most adult eating disorders start in childhood between the ages of 9 and 17. The National Eating Disorders Association estimates that 28.8 million people in the United States will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders can occur in people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, body shapes, and weights, but disproportionately impact BIPOC, LGBTQ+, athletes, people in larger bodies, and people with disabilities, who are at higher risk of developing eating disorders and are less likely to seek or have access to treatment due to stigma and systemic barriers.
Possible Symptoms
- Obsessive thoughts about food, body weight, body shape, or being “fat”.
- Unusual restriction of the types and amounts of food consumed.
- Secrecy or ritualization around eating behaviors.
- Repeated episodes of binging and purging after meals.
- Feeling out of control during a binge and eating. beyond the point of comfortable fullness.
- Excessive exercise, dieting, or fasting.
- Abusing laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics for the purpose of weight loss.
- For people who menstruate, loss of menstrual periods.
What Can You Do to Help Prevent Eating Disorders?
- Avoid judging others and yourself on the basis of food intake, body weight, or shape.
- Do not engage in “hate speech” about your own or others’ bodies. Send a strong message of acceptance in the way you talk about your own body and the way you approach food.
- Become a critical viewer of media and messages about self-esteem and body image.
- Consider if therapy would be helpful in exploring your attitude towards food and your body.
How to Help a Friend
If you are concerned that a friend may have an eating problem, please remember that help is available at the Counseling Center and the other resources listed below. The following suggestions may also help you navigate conversations about eating concerns with your friend.
- Gather information about eating disorders, treatment options, and resources.
- Express your concerns in behavioral terms, using “I” statements (e.g., “I noticed you don’t come with us to meals anymore”).
- Avoid trying to control their eating/calorie intake. Don’t focus on “solving the problem”; focus on listening and validating their feelings.
- Be compassionate but firm when emphasizing the importance of professional help and reassure them of your continued support.
- If your friend is not responsive and you remain concerned about them, consider speaking to an R.A. about your concern or consult with a counselor at the Counseling Center.
Resources
The following are resources related to eating disorder treatment, chronic dieting, and body image. The university does not manage or control web sites not owned by the university and is not responsible for content on such sites. We encourage you to evaluate the materials and use what you find helpful.
Campus Resources
Hall Health Primary Care Center (medical care)
4060 E Stevens Way NE
206-543-5030
UW Counseling Center (mental health)
1410 NE Campus Pkwy #401
206-543-1240
UW LiveWell’s The Body Project
Local Resources
Attune Nutrition
Seattle, WA
206-486-4867
Center for Discovery
Bellevue, Edmonds, and Tacoma, WA
833-902-2916
Eating Recovery Center
Bellevue, WA
425-454-1010
The Emily Program
Seattle, Spokane, and Lacey, WA
1-888-364-5977
National Eating Disorders Association
Resource Map
1-800-931-2237 Information & Referral Line
Opal: Food + Body
Seattle, WA
206-926-9087
Sunrise Nutrition
Seattle, WA
206-759-8400
THIRA Health
Bellevue, WA
425-873-8276
National Resources
ANAD
888-375-7767
National Alliance For Eating Disorders
866-662-1235
Articles
The Body Whisperer: Becoming a Better Listener to Your Body
