For some, food and eating are a simple fact of life. For others, both irrationally dominate their lives, actions and thought processes. Eating disorders have become one of modern society’s most perplexing social issues. Eating disorders are class, gender and race blind; they usually being in the teenage years, and will become a lifetime battle for those who fall under its spell. Charlotte Allinson, Young People's Participation Manager at the London based charity Beat (http://www.b-eat.co.uk/YoungPeople/Home) took time out to discuss eating disorders amongst youths.
Beat: Charlotte Allinson
iCUBED.us interviewer: Chris Lau
Date: May 2009
iCUBED.us: In simple terms, what is an eating disorder? What are the main ‘triggers’ to start an eating disorder? Peer pressure, self esteem?
Beat: An eating disorder is a mental illness that affects an estimated 1.1 million people in the UK. All kinds of people can be affected, any age, background, race, gender or sexuality. Eating disorders develop as a way of coping or trying to keep control and can be triggered by factors coming together such as low self esteem, a family break-up or bereavement. Food and eating becomes a way of trying to keep control or cope with emotions.
iCUBED.us: How can a teen help a friend they suspect has an eating disorder?
Beat: Have a quiet chat with them about how you are worried about them and why. Be there for them and listen when they are ready to talk. Learn more about eating disorders by looking on our website or calling our youthline and encourage them to do the same. If you are really concerned and it’s all getting too much for you, consider telling an adult such as your parents/guardians or a teacher.
iCUBED.us: Do you have any uplifting recovery stories to share? Do you have any examples of teenagers who have overcome a serious eating disorder to achieve remarkable things?
Beat: At beat we have a group of Young Ambassadors, they are recovered or recovering and they speak out at conferences, do presentations and speak to the media about their experiences – they are an inspiration. Overcoming an eating disorder is such a tough thing to do and they show that recovery is possible.
iCUBED.us: Are there, if any, positives to come out of such an experience?
Beat: These are some quotes from young people who have contacted us
"Recovery taught me so much about myself. I learned about the people I love, the person I am and how much I want to live and be happy. These are the things I am going to hang on to."
"Recovery isn't easy, I'm so proud I got there."
“Hang in there. Believe in yourself. Ask for help and you will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
iCUBED.us: Do you have any vital facts on eating disorders to share? Can eating disorders also affect males?
Beat: The statistics that we have say that 20 % of those affected by eating disorders are male but we estimate that there are more because we know that males are less likely to speak out about their emotions.
Eating Disorders can be beaten.
An eating disorder is serious.
An eating disorder is not a dieting craze.
An eating disorder is not attention seeking.
An eating disorder is an illness.
iCUBED.us: If a person suspects they have an eating disorder or the symptoms, how can they seek help?
Beat: Go to see a doctor who can assess their general health and refer them on to counselling to help them with whatever is making them unhappy. Also tell someone they trust such as their parents/guardians. Contact our youth services to talk things through and think about what to do next.
iCUBED.us: What is considered a healthy diet?
Beat: A healthy diet means that you eat many different kinds of food across all of the food groups. The main groups are: Carbohydrates, Protein, Dairy foods, Fruit and Vegetables. It is important that if you are vegetarian or vegan you make sure that you eat foods that can replace what you might be losing from not eating meat, fish or dairy products such as tofu, nuts, soya milk, etc.
iCUBED.us: How influential is the media in terms of exacerbating eating disorders amongst teens?
Beat: People have told us that the media did not create their eating disorder as it is a combination of a number of factors but the images in the media do not help them when they are trying to recover.
iCUBED.us: What are the greatest misconceptions about eating disorders? How ‘hidden’ are eating disorders in modern day society?
Beat: Anorexia is thought to be the most common eating disorder but actually other eating disorders such as bulimia and binge-eating are more common because they are harder to detect as the person doesn’t not lose a dramatic amount of weight. These eating disorders are just as serious and damaging.
iCUBED.us: How can a person be treated for an eating disorder both emotionally and physically?
Beat: In a lot of cases the sufferers’ physical health may be treated first such as re-feeding, introducing meal plans or prescribing medication. Treating the emotional side of eating disorders is very important, this includes different therapies such as talking therapies, art and drama therapy and occupational therapy.
iCUBED.us: How was beat set up? How many teens do you help on a daily basis? Do you have a helpline for teens in the UK? B-eat are UK based, if a teen reading this in another country has an eating disorder, where should they seek help?
Beat: beat is the new identity of the Eating Disorders Association. beat became our working name in February 2007. EDA was formed in 1989 when two local charities merged. In 1992, a third charity merged with EDA. EDA developed to support people affected by bulimia and binge eating as well as anorexia. Beat have a range of youth services for young people aged 25 and under, these are:
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