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Eating Disorders

Commonly known as: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating

Eating Disorders

Explore eating disorders by scrolling through the page or simply select an option from the drop down if you wish to jump to the relevant section of the page:

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Need urgent help?

If you need urgent help and support with your eating disorder please contact your GP as soon as possible, or call NHS 111 Wales on freephone 111.

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a mental health problem. It is when someone struggles with eating and body image which causes significant distress. You do not have to be underweight to have an eating disorder. Eating disorders can affect anyone at any age: males, females, children, young adults, adults and older adults.

It is essential to be treated as soon as possible if someone has an eating disorder. Regardless of a person’s weight it is important that someone with an eating disorder has a physical health check with their GP, this is likely to include blood tests.

 

Where to seek help

If you think you may have an eating disorder, it is important to seek help and support from your GP as soon as possible. There is also a specialist eating disorders charity, call Beat, which offers confidential online and telephone support.  They also have a website which contains helpful information about eating disorders.

Beat

Beat, an eating disorders charity, offers help and support for anyone who needs help with an eating disorder, is supporting someone with an eating disorder or who wants to learn more about eating disorders.

You can also talk in confidence to one of their advisers by calling their adult helpline on 0808 801 0433 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711. You can also access information on their website.

Beat’s online support and telephone line is available 365 days a year.

If you are concerned that a loved one is showing signs of an eating disorder you can find support for yourself via Beat.

Beat also provide training for health care professionals, school/university staff, parents and carers.

Local Eating Disorder Service

If you think you have an eating disorder seek help from your GP.  They can refer you to specialist help. A local Eating Disorders Service is available for people who live in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board which your GP can refer you to.

 

Helpful resources

More information on eating disorders can we found on the NHS 111 Wales website. Find this and all our other resources below.

Read one of our self-help leaflets, these can be found below.

Visit your local library and ask for the Reading Well Books, they include a book on eating disorders called ‘Getting Better Bite by Bite’. You should also be able to request ‘Overcoming Binge Eating’ by Christopher Fairburn. Find the details for these books below.

Last updated: 08.08.2022

Self-help resources to to better understand eating disorders

Browse our free self-help resources to help cope with eating disorders, approved by mental health experts.

TypeTitleRelated to…Provider
Websites Websites

Beat Eating Disorders – UK’s Eating Disorder charity

Eating Disorders, Healthy Eating mind
Websites Websites

Eating Disorder Service – Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Eating Disorders, Healthy Eating mind
Reading Reading

Eating Disorders – NHS Self-help Guide

Eating Disorders mind
Reading Reading

Eating Disorders – NHS Easy Read Guide

Eating Disorders mind
Websites Websites

NHS 111 Wales – Health A-Z : Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders mind
Reading Reading

Getting Better Bite by Bite: A Survival Kit for Sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders – Reading Well

Eating Disorders mind
Reading Reading

Overcoming Binge Eating, Christopher G. Fairburn | Reading Well

Eating Disorders mind
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Helplines and support for eating disorders

See below for helplines for eating disorders. To see our full list of helplines, visit our helplines page.

Beat Eating Disorders

Beat Eating Disorders – UK’s Eating Disorder charity

We are the UK’s eating disorder charity. Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, our mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders.

Visit Beat ED website ➝
NHS 111 Wales Logo

NHS 111 Wales

The NHS 111 telephone service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you can use it for urgent health advice on what services to access or how to manage an illness or condition and to access urgent primary care out of hours.

Visit NHS 111 Wales website ➝
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