There’s no need to suffer silently - Tackling eating disorders

Department of Health figures suggest that around 200,000 people suffer from eating disorders, so the number of people affected by this heartrending condition is a multiple of that. Parents and siblings, relatives and friends are often left bewildered as they watch a loved one suffer from this indiscriminate, complex mental health problem.

Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland yesterday reported that, last year, 70% of those who used the organisation’s helpline were first time callers and that the majority of them were aged between 25 and 35. However, the most startling detail in yesterday’s report was the fact that 58% of those who contacted Bodywhys via email were not getting any treatment for what is a very treatable condition.

Watching a loved one struggle with an eating disorder can be so unnerving, so very disturbing, because so many factors are in play. It is often more than difficult to understand — or accept — that a person might belive they need to lose weight when they are dangerously underweight.The deception soemtimes involved adds to the difficulty.