Understanding
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving unhealthy relationships with food, body image, and weight. These complex conditions affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, significantly impacting physical health, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning.
Understanding
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving unhealthy relationships with food, body image, and weight. These complex conditions affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, significantly impacting physical health, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning.
Understanding
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving unhealthy relationships with food, body image, and weight. These complex conditions affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, significantly impacting physical health, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning.
What does an Eating Disorder feel like?
Living with an eating disorder can feel like being trapped in a constant battle with food, your body, and your thoughts. You might experience intense anxiety around meals, obsessive thoughts about calories, weight, or body shape, and a distorted perception of your appearance. Many people describe feeling controlled by rigid food rules, experiencing guilt or shame after eating, or using food restriction, binge eating, or purging as ways to cope with difficult emotions.
The disorder often becomes a consuming preoccupation that affects relationships, work, and social activities. Physical symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, or digestive issues may accompany the psychological struggle, whilst the secrecy and shame surrounding eating behaviours can lead to isolation and loneliness.
Common Symptoms
Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, calories, or body shape
Restrictive eating patterns or avoidance of certain foods
Binge eating episodes followed by guilt or compensatory behaviours
Distorted body image or dysmorphic perception of appearance
Excessive exercise or compulsive movement to "burn off" food
Social withdrawal and avoidance of food-related situations
Physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or digestive problems
Using food, restriction, or purging to cope with emotions
What does an Eating Disorder feel like?
Living with an eating disorder can feel like being trapped in a constant battle with food, your body, and your thoughts. You might experience intense anxiety around meals, obsessive thoughts about calories, weight, or body shape, and a distorted perception of your appearance. Many people describe feeling controlled by rigid food rules, experiencing guilt or shame after eating, or using food restriction, binge eating, or purging as ways to cope with difficult emotions.
The disorder often becomes a consuming preoccupation that affects relationships, work, and social activities. Physical symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, or digestive issues may accompany the psychological struggle, whilst the secrecy and shame surrounding eating behaviours can lead to isolation and loneliness.
Common Symptoms
Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, calories, or body shape
Restrictive eating patterns or avoidance of certain foods
Binge eating episodes followed by guilt or compensatory behaviours
Distorted body image or dysmorphic perception of appearance
Excessive exercise or compulsive movement to "burn off" food
Social withdrawal and avoidance of food-related situations
Physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or digestive problems
Using food, restriction, or purging to cope with emotions
What does an Eating Disorder feel like?
Living with an eating disorder can feel like being trapped in a constant battle with food, your body, and your thoughts. You might experience intense anxiety around meals, obsessive thoughts about calories, weight, or body shape, and a distorted perception of your appearance. Many people describe feeling controlled by rigid food rules, experiencing guilt or shame after eating, or using food restriction, binge eating, or purging as ways to cope with difficult emotions.
The disorder often becomes a consuming preoccupation that affects relationships, work, and social activities. Physical symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, or digestive issues may accompany the psychological struggle, whilst the secrecy and shame surrounding eating behaviours can lead to isolation and loneliness.
Common Symptoms
Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, calories, or body shape
Restrictive eating patterns or avoidance of certain foods
Binge eating episodes followed by guilt or compensatory behaviours
Distorted body image or dysmorphic perception of appearance
Excessive exercise or compulsive movement to "burn off" food
Social withdrawal and avoidance of food-related situations
Physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or digestive problems
Using food, restriction, or purging to cope with emotions
History of Eating Disorders
Understanding eating disorders has evolved from viewing them as vanity or willpower issues to recognising them as serious mental health conditions requiring comprehensive medical and psychological treatment.
1873
Sir William Gull first described "anorexia nervosa" in medical literature, recognising it as a distinct condition rather than simply loss of appetite, marking the beginning of clinical understanding of eating disorders.
1950s
Bulimia nervosa was identified and distinguished from anorexia, whilst psychological theories began exploring the relationship between eating disorders, family dynamics, and societal pressures around body image.
1980s
Eating disorders were formally classified in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, leading to increased research, specialised treatment programmes, and recognition of their serious medical and psychological consequences.
Present
Modern treatment emphasises multidisciplinary approaches combining medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, and psychological therapy, with growing understanding of genetic factors, neurobiological aspects, and the importance of family-based treatments for young people.
History of Eating Disorders
Understanding eating disorders has evolved from viewing them as vanity or willpower issues to recognising them as serious mental health conditions requiring comprehensive medical and psychological treatment.
1873
Sir William Gull first described "anorexia nervosa" in medical literature, recognising it as a distinct condition rather than simply loss of appetite, marking the beginning of clinical understanding of eating disorders.
1950s
Bulimia nervosa was identified and distinguished from anorexia, whilst psychological theories began exploring the relationship between eating disorders, family dynamics, and societal pressures around body image.
1980s
Eating disorders were formally classified in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, leading to increased research, specialised treatment programmes, and recognition of their serious medical and psychological consequences.
Present
Modern treatment emphasises multidisciplinary approaches combining medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, and psychological therapy, with growing understanding of genetic factors, neurobiological aspects, and the importance of family-based treatments for young people.
History of Eating Disorders
Understanding eating disorders has evolved from viewing them as vanity or willpower issues to recognising them as serious mental health conditions requiring comprehensive medical and psychological treatment.
1873
Sir William Gull first described "anorexia nervosa" in medical literature, recognising it as a distinct condition rather than simply loss of appetite, marking the beginning of clinical understanding of eating disorders.
1950s
Bulimia nervosa was identified and distinguished from anorexia, whilst psychological theories began exploring the relationship between eating disorders, family dynamics, and societal pressures around body image.
1980s
Eating disorders were formally classified in psychiatric diagnostic manuals, leading to increased research, specialised treatment programmes, and recognition of their serious medical and psychological consequences.
Present
Modern treatment emphasises multidisciplinary approaches combining medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, and psychological therapy, with growing understanding of genetic factors, neurobiological aspects, and the importance of family-based treatments for young people.
Take our free self-test
Take our free self-test
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Instructions
Answer the questions based on the last few weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test explores whether therapy could be helpful for you right now. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
Instructions
Answer the questions based on the last few weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test explores whether therapy could be helpful for you right now. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
Instructions
Answer the questions based on the last few weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test explores whether therapy could be helpful for you right now. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
How therapy can help
Specialised eating disorder therapy addresses both the psychological and behavioural aspects of these complex conditions. Evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and family-based treatment help challenge distorted thoughts about food and body image, develop healthy coping strategies, and restore normal eating patterns.
Therapy focuses on understanding underlying triggers, processing trauma or difficult emotions, building self-esteem, and developing a healthier relationship with food and body. Nutritional counselling and medical monitoring often complement psychological treatment to ensure comprehensive recovery.
Benefits of Therapy
Challenge distorted thoughts about food, weight, and body image
Develop healthy coping strategies for managing difficult emotions
Learn to recognise hunger and fullness cues naturally
Build self-esteem and identity beyond appearance or food control
Address underlying trauma, anxiety, or perfectionism
Improve relationships and communication with family and friends
Develop relapse prevention skills and warning sign recognition
Create a sustainable, balanced relationship with food and exercise
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about eating disorders and specialised treatment approaches
Are eating disorders really about food, or are there deeper psychological issues?
Whilst eating disorders involve food and weight behaviours, they're fundamentally about underlying psychological factors like emotional regulation, control, perfectionism, trauma, or low self-esteem. Food restriction, bingeing, or purging often serve as coping mechanisms for difficult feelings or life stressors.
Can someone recover fully from an eating disorder?
Yes, full recovery is absolutely possible with appropriate treatment and support. Recovery involves developing a healthy relationship with food, body acceptance, and alternative coping strategies. Many people go on to live fulfilling lives without their eating disorder controlling their thoughts or behaviours.
Do eating disorders only affect young women?
No, eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Whilst they're more commonly diagnosed in females, they also significantly impact males, older adults, and diverse populations. Recognition and treatment approaches are expanding to serve all affected communities.
How do I know when to seek professional help for eating concerns?
Seek help if food, weight, or body image thoughts are consuming significant mental energy, affecting your daily functioning, relationships, or physical health, or if you're using food restriction, bingeing, purging, or excessive exercise to cope with emotions. Early intervention generally leads to better outcomes.
How therapy can help
Specialised eating disorder therapy addresses both the psychological and behavioural aspects of these complex conditions. Evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and family-based treatment help challenge distorted thoughts about food and body image, develop healthy coping strategies, and restore normal eating patterns.
Therapy focuses on understanding underlying triggers, processing trauma or difficult emotions, building self-esteem, and developing a healthier relationship with food and body. Nutritional counselling and medical monitoring often complement psychological treatment to ensure comprehensive recovery.
Benefits of Therapy
Challenge distorted thoughts about food, weight, and body image
Develop healthy coping strategies for managing difficult emotions
Learn to recognise hunger and fullness cues naturally
Build self-esteem and identity beyond appearance or food control
Address underlying trauma, anxiety, or perfectionism
Improve relationships and communication with family and friends
Develop relapse prevention skills and warning sign recognition
Create a sustainable, balanced relationship with food and exercise
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about eating disorders and specialised treatment approaches
Are eating disorders really about food, or are there deeper psychological issues?
Whilst eating disorders involve food and weight behaviours, they're fundamentally about underlying psychological factors like emotional regulation, control, perfectionism, trauma, or low self-esteem. Food restriction, bingeing, or purging often serve as coping mechanisms for difficult feelings or life stressors.
Can someone recover fully from an eating disorder?
Yes, full recovery is absolutely possible with appropriate treatment and support. Recovery involves developing a healthy relationship with food, body acceptance, and alternative coping strategies. Many people go on to live fulfilling lives without their eating disorder controlling their thoughts or behaviours.
Do eating disorders only affect young women?
No, eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Whilst they're more commonly diagnosed in females, they also significantly impact males, older adults, and diverse populations. Recognition and treatment approaches are expanding to serve all affected communities.
How do I know when to seek professional help for eating concerns?
Seek help if food, weight, or body image thoughts are consuming significant mental energy, affecting your daily functioning, relationships, or physical health, or if you're using food restriction, bingeing, purging, or excessive exercise to cope with emotions. Early intervention generally leads to better outcomes.
How therapy can help
Specialised eating disorder therapy addresses both the psychological and behavioural aspects of these complex conditions. Evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and family-based treatment help challenge distorted thoughts about food and body image, develop healthy coping strategies, and restore normal eating patterns.
Therapy focuses on understanding underlying triggers, processing trauma or difficult emotions, building self-esteem, and developing a healthier relationship with food and body. Nutritional counselling and medical monitoring often complement psychological treatment to ensure comprehensive recovery.
Benefits of Therapy
Challenge distorted thoughts about food, weight, and body image
Develop healthy coping strategies for managing difficult emotions
Learn to recognise hunger and fullness cues naturally
Build self-esteem and identity beyond appearance or food control
Address underlying trauma, anxiety, or perfectionism
Improve relationships and communication with family and friends
Develop relapse prevention skills and warning sign recognition
Create a sustainable, balanced relationship with food and exercise
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about eating disorders and specialised treatment approaches
Are eating disorders really about food, or are there deeper psychological issues?
Whilst eating disorders involve food and weight behaviours, they're fundamentally about underlying psychological factors like emotional regulation, control, perfectionism, trauma, or low self-esteem. Food restriction, bingeing, or purging often serve as coping mechanisms for difficult feelings or life stressors.
Can someone recover fully from an eating disorder?
Yes, full recovery is absolutely possible with appropriate treatment and support. Recovery involves developing a healthy relationship with food, body acceptance, and alternative coping strategies. Many people go on to live fulfilling lives without their eating disorder controlling their thoughts or behaviours.
Do eating disorders only affect young women?
No, eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Whilst they're more commonly diagnosed in females, they also significantly impact males, older adults, and diverse populations. Recognition and treatment approaches are expanding to serve all affected communities.
How do I know when to seek professional help for eating concerns?
Seek help if food, weight, or body image thoughts are consuming significant mental energy, affecting your daily functioning, relationships, or physical health, or if you're using food restriction, bingeing, purging, or excessive exercise to cope with emotions. Early intervention generally leads to better outcomes.
Meet our Therapists
Meet our Therapists
Waqas Maqsood is an integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP with over 600 clinical hours. Holding an MA in Integrative Counselling and a BSc in Neuroscience, he offers a holistic, flexible approach that supports clients with anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
More
Adults (18+)
Victoria is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more than 1,900 clinical hours of experience. A registered member of the BACP, she supports both individuals and couples, offering a warm, collaborative space to explore relationships, self-worth, anxiety, and personal growth in a supportive environment.
More
Adults (18+)
Couples
Matt is an integrative counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with experience delivering more than 500 clinical sessions. He combines counselling, mindfulness, and meditation techniques to support clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and life transitions, helping people build resilience, clarity, and a stronger sense of emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
At Manchester Counselling, we are pleased to introduce Grant Fairlie (MBACP), a counsellor with over 1,900 clinical hours and more than three years of practice. Grant brings a background in drama education and specialist experience supporting neurodiverse adults and adolescents.
More
Adults (18+)
Introducing Andrea Szentgyorgyi, a UKCP-registered integrative psychotherapist with over 1,000 clinical hours. Andrea combines person-centred, solution-focused therapy with advanced techniques including hypnotherapy and EMDR, creating a tailored and flexible approach for each client. With 6 years of experience, she provides a safe and supportive space to explore challenges and promote lasting emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
At Manchester Counselling, we’re proud to introduce Isabella May Leonard (MSc), an experienced person-centred psychotherapist offering therapy for adults. With over 2,500 clinical hours, Isabella brings warmth, compassion, and professional depth to her practice, with experience across private practice, NHS Talking Therapies, and third-sector services. She provides both short- and long-term therapy, creating a safe and reflective space where clients can explore challenges at their own pace.
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Adults (18+)
Jayne Tamsett is a BACP accredited counsellor with a BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy and over 4,700 clinical hours. She works with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship challenges. Her practice offers an inclusive and compassionate space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported in their personal growth
More
Adults (18+)
Waqas Maqsood is an integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP with over 600 clinical hours. Holding an MA in Integrative Counselling and a BSc in Neuroscience, he offers a holistic, flexible approach that supports clients with anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
More
Adults (18+)
Victoria is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more than 1,900 clinical hours of experience. A registered member of the BACP, she supports both individuals and couples, offering a warm, collaborative space to explore relationships, self-worth, anxiety, and personal growth in a supportive environment.
More
Adults (18+)
Couples
Matt is an integrative counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with experience delivering more than 500 clinical sessions. He combines counselling, mindfulness, and meditation techniques to support clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and life transitions, helping people build resilience, clarity, and a stronger sense of emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
Waqas Maqsood is an integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP with over 600 clinical hours. Holding an MA in Integrative Counselling and a BSc in Neuroscience, he offers a holistic, flexible approach that supports clients with anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
More
Adults (18+)
Victoria is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more than 1,900 clinical hours of experience. A registered member of the BACP, she supports both individuals and couples, offering a warm, collaborative space to explore relationships, self-worth, anxiety, and personal growth in a supportive environment.
More
Adults (18+)
Couples
Matt is an integrative counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with experience delivering more than 500 clinical sessions. He combines counselling, mindfulness, and meditation techniques to support clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and life transitions, helping people build resilience, clarity, and a stronger sense of emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
At Manchester Counselling, we are pleased to introduce Grant Fairlie (MBACP), a counsellor with over 1,900 clinical hours and more than three years of practice. Grant brings a background in drama education and specialist experience supporting neurodiverse adults and adolescents.
More
Adults (18+)