Food plays a very important part in our lives and out eating habits vary. Food is essential for our health and development. It’s not unusual to experiment with different eating habits, for example you may have decided to become a vegetarian or tried changing your diet to improve your health but some eating habits can be damaging.

Problems with food can begin when it is used to cope with those times when you are bored, anxious, angry, lonely, ashamed or sad. Food becomes a problem when it is used to help you to cope with painful situations or feelings, or to relieve stress perhaps without you even realising it. If this is how you deal with emotions and feelings and you are unhappy about it. Try to talk to a friend or someone you trust. Together you could work through the issues.

Some of the problems that can cause eating disorders can include  - low self-esteem, family relationships, problems with friends, a death, problems at school, lack of confidence, sexual or emotional abuse.

Some view eating disorders as a way having control over their lives. In the end it leads to your eating disorder being out of control.

Who do eating disorders affect and when?

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, sex, cultural or racial background, although the people most likely to be affected tend to be young women, particularly between the ages of 15-25.

These contacts could help -

www.childline.org.uk
Childline (0800 1111)
EDA youthline (01603 765 050)
EDA helpline (01603 621 414)