Mental Health

Eating Disorders

A framework for recognising restrictive, bingeing and compensatory eating patterns, identifying medical and psychiatric emergencies, and matching the person to specialist, diagnosis-specific treatment.

Definition

Eating disorders are mental-health conditions characterised by persistent disturbance of eating behaviour, weight or shape concerns or clinically significant food avoidance, causing physical, psychological or social impairment. Important patterns include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID and OSFED.

First principles

Start with behaviour and risk, not appearance

Eating disorders can occur at any body size, age or sex. Ask about restriction, bingeing, vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, fasting, driven exercise, weight and shape concerns and loss of control. A weight or BMI measure may inform assessment but must not be used alone to diagnose, deny treatment or determine urgency.

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