How to support a student suffering from an eating disorder

Young people are at particular risk of eating disorders – what signs should you look out for?

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Beat

While eating disorders can affect anyone of any age, young people are at particular risk; we know that the earlier an eating disorder is treated, the better chance someone has of fully recovering. 

Staff in schools and colleges are well-placed to spot the early signs of an eating disorder, and educational establishments can take steps to address eating disorders at several levels with policies and practice; policies that address health and wellbeing, aim to prevent bullying, establish connections with health services, and set in place appropriate training and development for staff, are strongly recommended.

Signs to be aware of

You can read about the signs of individual eating disorders here. Beat also run training courses for staff at both primary and secondary school level to help them support pupils with eating disorders. There are some signs that may become especially apparent in the school environment, which might include:

• Social isolation.
• Avoiding eating around others.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Tiredness.
• Irritability.
• Low confidence and self-esteem.
• Anxiety.
• Obsessive and/or rigid behaviour.
• Perfectionism, including setting unreasonably high personal standards and increased concern about making errors.
• Excessive neatness.
• Decreasing handwriting size.
• Self-harm.
• Changes to weight – gaining or losing weight, or experiencing fluctuating weight.

Staff may notice increased social isolation, and concentration levels will diminish if eating is very restricted. Higher functions, such as abstract thought, get ‘switched off’ if insufficient fuel is reaching the brain. 

Pupils may have high expectations of their academic performance, and examination success can be seriously compromised when someone has an eating disorder. Health must come first, and this can mean pupils being withdrawn from examinations in order to undergo treatment. The motivation of being well enough to continue with studies can help someone accept that treatment is necessary.