Is your eating a problem?

People with eating problems worry about their weight, shape and food, to the point where it really affects their life. Here are some of the common experiences described by people who struggle with eating problems. Do you recognise any of them?

How your body might feel 

• Tired/exhausted
• Restless
• Lacking in energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hungry or difficulty recognising signs of being hungry

Thoughts you might have 

• “I know I’m a normal weight, but if I could just lose another half a stone, I’d be happy.”
• “I can’t stop thinking about food. I even dream about it.”
• “I’m so ashamed. I’m an ugly fat pig but food is the only thing that makes me feel better.”
• “I don’t want to start eating because I won’t be able to stop.”

Feelings you might have 

• Fear of gaining weight
• Feeling low in confidence
• Feeling depressed, guilty, or disgusted with yourself after eating
• A tendency to feeling low in mood, or anxious
• Finding it difficult to cope with stress
• Finding it hard to express feelings

Things you might do 

• Negatively compare your appearance to other people
• Deliberately go for long periods of time without eating anything at all (4+hours)
• Not eat regular meals (usually 3 meals a day)
• Eat when you’re not hungry
• Over-eat or under-eat
• Eat until you feel uncomfortably full, with a sense of loss of control
• Eat in secret
• Purge, making yourself sick, using laxative or exercising excessively

If any of these sound familiar, you can find out more about eating problems in the ‘Learn’ section. You’ll also find some helpful tips and advice on managing your eating in the ‘Manage’ section.