ANOREXIA: THE EXPERT VIEW

Dr Natasha Bijlani is a consultant psychiatrist working in the treatment of eating disorders at the Priory Hospital Roehampton in London

What is anorexia and how can you spot the signs?

Anorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric disorder that leads to considerable ill health and has the highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders. It’s an eating disorder characterised by deliberate weight loss that’s initiated and/or sustained by the patient.

Emotional and behavioural symptoms include attempts to lose weight and often an unnatural preoccupation with food. Patients frequently skip meals or refuse to eat. They may deny their hunger, make excuses for not eating or eat only a few certain ‘safe’ (usually low-calorie) foods. Those affected may become irritable, socially withdrawn and seem lacking in emotion, or develop depressed mood and lose interest in sex.

What causes anorexia?

There’s not thought to be any specific or definite ‘cause’ and, like most conditions, anorexia is often the result of multiple influences such as environment and genetics. High-risk factors for developing eating disorders include sociocultural influences (particularly peer pressure and Western cultural pressures for thinness), as well as some personality factors, like neuroticism and perfectionism. In some cases, emotional stress from circumstances such as bereavement or pressures at school or work can also increase the risk of developing an eating disorder.

How can those vulnerable to disordered eating use social media safely?

Social media is rarely the sole cause of an eating disorder, but it can play a significant role for those susceptible to disordered eating. Frequent exposure to images that portray unrealistic ideals of beauty (as they are often altered) is known to harm your sense of self. If you feel vulnerable, delete your apps and try taking a break for a while. Wherever you’re at, be mindful of who you engage with and don’t be afraid to unfollow accounts that you feel are having a negative influence on you.

If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s relationship with food, contact Beat, the UK’S eating disorder charity, on 0808 801 0677 or go to beateatingdisorders.org.uk