Eating Disorders Awareness Week - 26th February – 3rd March

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is organised by ‘Beat Eating Disorders’

The focus of the week this year is to shine a light on ARFID – Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder which is a largely unknown and misunderstood eating disorder.

For those of us with children of any age or are expecting a baby, eating disorders can make the already challenging experience of parenthood into one which is dominated by guilt, shame and isolation. If this is a personal issue, then at least be comforted that you are not alone.

I am expecting a baby – what might this mean for me?

The eating disorder support organisation, ‘Wednesday’s child’ refer to research revealing that 16% of pregnant women will have experienced an eating disorder at some time in their life, and of those, 50% are likely to relapse within a year of delivery. The perinatal period presents numerous potential triggers for anybody who has current or historic experience of an eating disorder. This includes the pressure of social media, managing rapid bodily changes, and the huge transition to becoming mum and changing body image, in addition to inevitable choices around infant feeding. Navigating the perinatal period as someone who has or had a disordered relationship with food, exercise, weight, or shape can, not surprisingly, feel difficult.

I have children – what might this mean for me?

When we become parents /carers ourselves this can open the door to our own parenting and life experiences. Choices around feeding our children can stir up emotions and behaviours, which in some cases we may have thought we had previously overcome. This is not unusual and please recognise it as a strength to reach out for support. Your Health Visitor is there to support you with your emotional as well as physical wellbeing and can help signpost you where needed.

In need of support?

There’s plenty out there and as always, early intervention is key to recovery. Local NHS Eating Disorder Services are likely to require a GP referral so we encourage you to make an appointment with your GP.

How can the health visiting team help?

We can talk though any worries you might have about the impact on you and your child. If needed, we can help you to make an appointment with your GP and we will also be able to help you find other sources of support.

Whether you live in West Sussex or Brighton and Hove please contact us. You can find our phone and email details on the Sussex Community NHS Trust website.

If you are worried about contacting us, you can use Parentline – see below – this is an anonymous texting service. You may feel more comfortable seeking help like this to start with and we can still direct you to the right support.

Services and resources

There are for the many online services and resources that are available at your fingertips:

• Beat Eating Disorders: Online community with peer support for someone with an eating disorder: Support includes helpline, online webchat, workshops, courses and forums
• Wednesday’s child: This not-for-profit support organisation provides support for new or expectant parents who are themselves suffering from an eating disorder or concerned about the risk of relapse in the perinatal period.
• NHS Eating Disorder information and services: 
• MIND:Good source of information about different types of eating disorders, support and resources.
• National Centre for Eating Disorders: Extensive range of informative handouts. Advice on finding qualified eating disorder specialists.
• NHS Self-help Informative handout: This from another NHS Trust with advice on range of eating disorders, support options, services and resources. We think it is a helpful guide.