Eating disorders
Patterns that affect a person's relationship with food and their body — both medically and psychologically serious.
What it is
Eating disorders — including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder — are serious conditions involving a person's relationship with food, weight, or body image. They affect people of every gender, age, and body size, and carry real physical risk alongside the psychological toll.
Common signs
- Preoccupation with food, calories, or body shape that takes up significant mental space
- Eating in secret, or strict rules around when, what, or how much to eat
- Eating much more than intended and feeling unable to stop
- Compensating for eating through purging, excessive exercise, or fasting
- Significant changes in weight, energy, or ability to concentrate
- Avoiding meals or situations involving food
Good to know
Eating disorders are not about vanity or willpower, and they don't always come with visible weight change — someone can be seriously unwell at any body size. Early intervention significantly improves outcomes, which is why NL treats this as a priority area with both inpatient and outpatient options.
What helps
Treatment usually involves a team — medical monitoring, a dietitian, and a therapist — working together rather than any one approach alone. Family-based approaches are often part of treatment for younger people specifically.
When to seek help
If eating, exercise, or body image has started to feel controlling rather than chosen, raise it with a doctor sooner rather than later — EDFNL and the Janeway HOPE program can also be a starting point without going through emergency care first.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you're in crisis, go to Get Help Now instead of reading further.