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You are not alone!

A journey towards positive body image and how to get comfortable

Support for young people, parents, carers and professionals
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Explore our educational modules

Body Image and Normal Eating

  • Intuitive and balanced eating
  • Feeling comfortable in your body
  • Breaking free from diet culture
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Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

  • Managing anxiety around food
  • Understanding hunger
  • Support a young person with ARFID as well as very picky or fussy eaters
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What is disordered eating?

  • Supporting emotional regulation
  • Understanding disordered eating
  • Recognising the signs and signals
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What is Disordered Eating?

Disordered Eating is a phrase used to describe a range of irregular eating behaviours that may or may not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder.

People who experience disordered eating, whether diagnosed with an Eating Disorder or not, often have poor emotional awareness and have limited access to emotion regulation strategies.

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FAQs from our community:

How can Be Body Positive help me overcome my disordered eating?

Disordered eating – a term used to describe eating difficulties that don’t require a clinical diagnosis – is becoming more common and can often be the first signs of someone developing an eating disorder. The NHS is treating record numbers of young people for eating disorders, so the need to intervene before diagnosis has become a matter of urgency. As ELFT clinician, Erica, says:  “A better eating disorders’ prognosis is linked to a shorter duration between onset of illness and start of treatment. Early intervention is therefore important to allow targeted support at a time when symptoms are more malleable and less entrenched, at times preventing the deterioration of the symptoms to developing into a full-blown eating disorder.”
Yes, disordered eating behaviours can develop into an eating disorder, when abnormal eating habits negatively impact a person's physical and emotional well-being. If someone is struggling with disordered eating, it's important for them to seek help from a healthcare professional.
The most common side effects of an eating disorder include: Physical effects: malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, digestive issues, weakened immune system, hormonal imbalances, cardiac problems, low blood pressure, muscle wasting, and bone density loss. Mental effects: depression, anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, distorted body image, social withdrawal, and increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Behavioural effects: restriction of food intake, binge eating, purging, excessive exercising, hoarding of food, and hiding food. Social effects: withdrawal from friendship groups, avoidance of social situations and settings that may involve food and eating, difficulty holding space for relationships with others whilst battling eating disorder thoughts.   It's important to note that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions  that require medical attention. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seek help from a doctor or health professional.

What is Body Image?

We can’t always see the extent of somebody’s body image struggles. Body image is the way you:

  • Evaluate your appearance 
  • Think and feel about the way your body looks and functions
  • Behave, treat and relate to your body

Tell me more about this

FAQs from our community:

How can Be Body Positive help me overcome my disordered eating?

Disordered eating – a term used to describe eating difficulties that don’t require a clinical diagnosis – is becoming more common and can often be the first signs of someone developing an eating disorder. The NHS is treating record numbers of young people for eating disorders, so the need to intervene before diagnosis has become a matter of urgency. As ELFT clinician, Erica, says:  “A better eating disorders’ prognosis is linked to a shorter duration between onset of illness and start of treatment. Early intervention is therefore important to allow targeted support at a time when symptoms are more malleable and less entrenched, at times preventing the deterioration of the symptoms to developing into a full-blown eating disorder.”
Yes, disordered eating behaviours can develop into an eating disorder, when abnormal eating habits negatively impact a person's physical and emotional well-being. If someone is struggling with disordered eating, it's important for them to seek help from a healthcare professional.
The most common side effects of an eating disorder include: Physical effects: malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, digestive issues, weakened immune system, hormonal imbalances, cardiac problems, low blood pressure, muscle wasting, and bone density loss. Mental effects: depression, anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, distorted body image, social withdrawal, and increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Behavioural effects: restriction of food intake, binge eating, purging, excessive exercising, hoarding of food, and hiding food. Social effects: withdrawal from friendship groups, avoidance of social situations and settings that may involve food and eating, difficulty holding space for relationships with others whilst battling eating disorder thoughts.   It's important to note that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions  that require medical attention. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seek help from a doctor or health professional.

What is AFRID?

People with ARFID eat a very limited variety or amount of food and it causes problems in their lives. These problems may be health related, like loosing too much weight, or not getting enough nutrients.

These problems may also be social, like not being able to eat meals with others.

Tell me more about this

FAQs from our community:

How can Be Body Positive help me overcome my disordered eating?

Disordered eating – a term used to describe eating difficulties that don’t require a clinical diagnosis – is becoming more common and can often be the first signs of someone developing an eating disorder. The NHS is treating record numbers of young people for eating disorders, so the need to intervene before diagnosis has become a matter of urgency. As ELFT clinician, Erica, says:  “A better eating disorders’ prognosis is linked to a shorter duration between onset of illness and start of treatment. Early intervention is therefore important to allow targeted support at a time when symptoms are more malleable and less entrenched, at times preventing the deterioration of the symptoms to developing into a full-blown eating disorder.”
Yes, disordered eating behaviours can develop into an eating disorder, when abnormal eating habits negatively impact a person's physical and emotional well-being. If someone is struggling with disordered eating, it's important for them to seek help from a healthcare professional.
The most common side effects of an eating disorder include: Physical effects: malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, digestive issues, weakened immune system, hormonal imbalances, cardiac problems, low blood pressure, muscle wasting, and bone density loss. Mental effects: depression, anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, distorted body image, social withdrawal, and increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Behavioural effects: restriction of food intake, binge eating, purging, excessive exercising, hoarding of food, and hiding food. Social effects: withdrawal from friendship groups, avoidance of social situations and settings that may involve food and eating, difficulty holding space for relationships with others whilst battling eating disorder thoughts.   It's important to note that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions  that require medical attention. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seek help from a doctor or health professional.

What is Normal Eating?

Normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your emotions, schedule, hunger and proximity to food.

Examples of ‘normal’ eating include being able to eat when you’re hungry and continue eating until you are satisfied, overeating and undereating at times and giving yourself permission to eat all foods.  

Tell me more about this

FAQs from our community:

How can Be Body Positive help me overcome my disordered eating?

Disordered eating – a term used to describe eating difficulties that don’t require a clinical diagnosis – is becoming more common and can often be the first signs of someone developing an eating disorder. The NHS is treating record numbers of young people for eating disorders, so the need to intervene before diagnosis has become a matter of urgency. As ELFT clinician, Erica, says:  “A better eating disorders’ prognosis is linked to a shorter duration between onset of illness and start of treatment. Early intervention is therefore important to allow targeted support at a time when symptoms are more malleable and less entrenched, at times preventing the deterioration of the symptoms to developing into a full-blown eating disorder.”
Yes, disordered eating behaviours can develop into an eating disorder, when abnormal eating habits negatively impact a person's physical and emotional well-being. If someone is struggling with disordered eating, it's important for them to seek help from a healthcare professional.
The most common side effects of an eating disorder include: Physical effects: malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, digestive issues, weakened immune system, hormonal imbalances, cardiac problems, low blood pressure, muscle wasting, and bone density loss. Mental effects: depression, anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, distorted body image, social withdrawal, and increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Behavioural effects: restriction of food intake, binge eating, purging, excessive exercising, hoarding of food, and hiding food. Social effects: withdrawal from friendship groups, avoidance of social situations and settings that may involve food and eating, difficulty holding space for relationships with others whilst battling eating disorder thoughts.   It's important to note that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions  that require medical attention. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, seek help from a doctor or health professional.

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What is body image?

What is body image?

Body image is the way you… Evaluate your appearance Think & feel about the way your body...

46 seconds read
4 helpful steps to take during a bad body image day

4 helpful steps to take during a bad body image day

Having a bad body image day? 1.What am I feeling? “I’m feeling really uncomfortable in my body...

1 minute, 17 seconds read
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Uncover the path to a more positive relationship with food and your body with Be Body Positive. Your new go-to destination for information and resources on disordered eating and body image.

✓ Evidence-based coping strategies

✓ Stories and experiences

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✓ And so much more!

The content is designed by a team of experts specifically for young people and tested by young people. We provide the support and guidance you need to overcome challenges around eating, body image and self-care. 

With resources for parents/carers as well as youth workers, teachers and health professionals,  there is something new to learn for everyone.

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Stories

Hear from people in similar situations

Josh

London

I know for me, and a lot of my friends, we’ve struggled with disordered eating at some point in our lives. Maybe it’s skipping meals or overeating, but it’s definitely not a healthy relationship with food. And it’s not just about physical health either, it really messes with your mental health too.

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Recently Added FAQ’s

The aim of this website is to support young people to identify and reflect on their eating behaviours and work toward a better relationship with food and their bodies through self-guided modules. Modules include exploring topics linked to food and eating behaviours and body image.
Eating behaviours can be described within a spectrum from optimal eating to eating disorders, with disordered eating sitting somewhere in the middle. Disordered eating can include normalised eating behaviours such as skipping meals, overeating, undereating, binge eating and extreme dieting. It can also include other behaviours associated such as obsessive or excessive exercise. Eating disorders, on the other hand, are diagnosable conditions characterised by persistent and extreme disturbances in eating behaviour. There are different types of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and others. Eating disorders are accompanied by intense negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours towards food, weight and body image.  In summary, disordered eating is a more general term that encompasses a broad range of eating behaviours, while eating disorders refer to specific, diagnosed conditions with specific symptoms and criteria.
Disordered eating – a term used to describe eating difficulties that don’t require a clinical diagnosis – is becoming more common and can often be the first signs of someone developing an eating disorder. The NHS is treating record numbers of young people for eating disorders, so the need to intervene before diagnosis has become a matter of urgency. As ELFT clinician, Erica, says:  “A better eating disorders’ prognosis is linked to a shorter duration between onset of illness and start of treatment. Early intervention is therefore important to allow targeted support at a time when symptoms are more malleable and less entrenched, at times preventing the deterioration of the symptoms to developing into a full-blown eating disorder.”
There are many coping strategies for disordered eating, including:
  • Mindfulness and self-care practices, such as yoga, meditation, and exercise
  • Talking to a therapist or support group to process feelings and emotions
  • Practicing self-compassion and positive self-talk
  • Engaging in hobbies and activities that bring joy and fulfillment
  • Challenging negative thoughts and beliefs related to food and body image
  • Focusing on nourishing the body with balanced and satisfying meals
  • Reaching out to friends and loved ones for support
  • Following body positive accounts on social media, such as @bodiposipoet or @antidietriotclub
  • Seeking professional help, such as seeing a registered dietitian or seeking treatment for an eating disorder.
It's important to remember that everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. It's essential to find the coping strategies that work best for you and to seek help from a mental health professional if needed.

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