Thursday 27 February 2014
This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week and a chance to raise awareness, improve understanding, and challenge stereotypes of eating disorders. An annual campaign is run by B-eat which is a UK charity supporting people who have an eating disorder and people who care for them.
Eating disorders can be due to excessive dietary restriction with or without binge-eating and purging. Sometimes sufferers become obsessed with their weight and frightened of putting on weight. They may exercise excessively to burn off calories. Identification and diagnosis of an eating disorder is essential in getting help early as it rarely resolves without help and can become a longstanding and disabling illness.
There are Health and Social Services Department services available for all ages which can be accessed by referral from a health professional. There are potentially many people on Guernsey suffering from eating disorders who do not know help is available.
Nicola Walker has recently been appointed as Nurse Consultant to help develop adult eating disorders services for the Bailiwick. She would like to meet up with anyone (or a family member) who has experienced eating disorder treatment either here and/or in the UK to explore their views of what would make a good eating disorder service for the Islands.
B-eat offer online support and live chat. There are currently no B-eat support groups in Guernsey although Over-eaters Anonymous runs a weekly support group at MIND for anyone with a problematic relationship with food.
For more information, please get in touch on NDruryWalker@hssd.gov.gg or telephone 725241 ext 3368.
-ENDS-
Contact information
Nicola Walker
Tel: 01481 725 241 ext 3368
E-mail: NDruryWalker@hssd.gov.gg
