Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, estimates that at least 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder. Sadly, this number is increasing. Eating disorders are often underestimated and misunderstood, and long NHS waiting times can make it hard for people to get the help they need.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect anyone, no matter their age, gender, or background. But if you or someone you care about is struggling, support is available.

Castle Health provides eating disorder treatment through our outpatient psychiatry service, and if someone is dealing with both an eating disorder and addiction, we also offer integrated support in our residential programmes at Castle Craig in Scotland and Smarmore Castle in Ireland. In this article, we explain what eating disorders are and how we can help.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental disorders. They involve distressing beliefs and behaviours around food, eating, body shape, and weight. These illnesses can deeply affect a person’s physical health, relationships, and overall quality of life.

They are not a choice, a phase, or something a person causes themselves to have. Eating disorders are complex psychiatric conditions that develop from biological, psychological, and social factors, and no one should face them alone.

What are the types of eating disorders?

Many people have the wrong idea about what an eating disorder looks like. This can lead to someone not being diagnosed by others or not realising what they are going through themselves. Stigma and misinformation have created a narrow view of eating disorders, but the truth is much more complicated. Eating disorders often overlap, and many people find their experiences don’t fit into just one category. For example, someone with anorexia might also have episodes of binge eating, and diagnoses can change over time. The most important thing is not the label, but making sure each person gets the support that fits their needs.

Anorexia nervosa (AN)

Anorexia nervosa involves severely restricted food intake, driven by intense fear and distress around weight, shape, and eating. It is often accompanied by a rigid, detail-focused way of thinking and high levels of anxiety. It carries serious physical health risks and has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, which is why early intervention is so important. 

Bulimia nervosa (BN)

Bulimia nervosa involves a cycle of eating, often in a way that feels out of control, followed by purging behaviours to try to compensate. These might include misuse of laxatives, self-induced vomiting, or excessive exercise. 

Binge eating disorder (BED)

Binge eating disorder is one of the most common eating disorders in the world. It involves repeated episodes of eating that feel out of control, followed by feelings of shame, guilt, or significant distress. It remains one of the most underdiagnosed eating disorders, in part because the shame surrounding it can make asking for help feel very difficult. Diet culture, social messaging, and the way our society talks about food and bodies can make a person feel that their experience is a failure of willpower rather than a medical condition that deserves care. That shame can make asking for help feel very difficult, but it should never be a barrier to getting it

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) 

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder is when someone avoids certain foods or types of food, eats less overall, or both. ARFID can affect people of any age, including children, teenagers, and adults.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

As we mentioned, Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are each diagnosed based on a set of recognised symptoms, including behavioural, psychological, and physical signs. When someone’s experience doesn’t exactly match any of these categories, they may be diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder, or OSFED.

OSFED isn’t a catch-all or a lesser diagnosis, and it’s actually the most common eating disorder diagnosis. Because it’s an umbrella term, people diagnosed with OSFED can have very different experiences from one another. It exists to ensure that people who are genuinely struggling aren’t turned away from support simply because their symptoms don’t match a specific set of criteria.

There are also other recognised feeding and eating disorders, such as pica, which involves eating non-food substances, and rumination disorder, which involves repeatedly bringing up food after eating. These conditions are less common but still deserve care and support. Muscle dysmorphia and body dysmorphic disorder aren’t classified as eating disorders, but they can cause similar distress around body image and identity. 

What are the symptoms of eating disorders?

Because of everything we have already described, the signs of an eating disorder can be easy to miss, minimise, or mistake for something else entirely.

But here are some of the signs that it may be time to seek support: 

Behavioural signs

  • Becoming secretive or withdrawn around food
  • Avoiding eating with others or often finding reasons not to join meals in social settings.
  • Following strict rules or routines around eating, like only eating certain foods or always eating in a set order
  • Exercising in a way that feels compulsive or excessive, and feeling very upset if a workout is missed

Physical signs

  • Feeling tired all the time and having low energy
  • Finding it hard to concentrate
  • Often feeling cold, even when others are comfortable.
  • Having ongoing digestive issues
  • Noticing dental erosion or problems with teeth

It’s worth noting that many people with eating disorders may not show obvious physical signs right away, and they may appear later on as the condition develops.

Psychological and emotional signs

  • Being intensely focused on food, eating, weight, or body image
  • Feeling shame, guilt, or disgust about eating
  • Feeling very anxious at mealtimes or in situations that involve food
  • Having a harsh or distorted view of your own body
  • Feeling down, easily irritated, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy

If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone you care about, at any stage, consider reaching out to a professional for support.

Causes and risk factors

There’s no single cause for eating disorders, and they are never anyone’s fault. They develop from a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors, and this varies from person to person. Learning what leads to an eating disorder is important for finding the best treatment.

Biological factors

Biology has a bigger impact on eating disorders than many people realise. These conditions often run in families, and research shows that genetics can make someone more vulnerable. Differences in the brain systems that control appetite, mood, and how we process emotions have also been found in people with eating disorders. This means that for some people, a biological tendency exists that has nothing to do with their choices or circumstances.

Neurodiversity

Research is increasingly showing a link between neurodiversity and eating disorders. Autistic people and those with ADHD are more likely to experience certain eating disorders than the general population. As research in this area grows, it’s increasingly shaping how specialists approach assessment and treatment for people of all ages.

Psychological factors

People with eating disorders often share certain traits. These can include perfectionism, high levels of anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulty managing tough emotions. A very rigid or detail-focused way of thinking, along with a strong fear of making mistakes, can also play a part. For example, someone who is a perfectionist might set very high standards around food or their body and feel very distressed when they fall short. 

Social and environmental factors

The world a person lives in also plays a role. Experiences of trauma, abuse, or bullying can be contributing factors. Constant exposure to diet culture, social media, and messages that place importance on how we look can also have an effect. Studies show that spending a lot of time looking at idealised body images online is linked to greater body dissatisfaction and a higher risk of disordered eating. These pressures alone do not cause eating disorders, but they can be a significant trigger for someone who is already vulnerable.

Co-occurring mental health conditions

Eating disorders often happen alongside other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. These can change how an eating disorder presents and what treatment works best. Sometimes another condition may have contributed to the eating disorder developing. In other cases, it may have developed at the same time or as a result of it. 

Women discussing treatment options for eating disorder and addiction

What are the best eating disorder treatment programmes available near me?

The first and most important step to understanding what the best care for someone is and where to access it is with a clinical assessment.

Eating disorder treatment works best when it is built around the person, not just the diagnosis. Evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and family-based treatment may be recommended alongside nutritional counselling, medical care, and support for any co-occurring conditions.

At Castle Health, we offer specialist eating disorder treatment and therapy across the UK and Europe, both as a standalone outpatient service and as part of our residential programmes. Here’s what that looks like:

  • Outpatient treatment means having regular appointments with a specialist team while still living at home. This is the most common starting point and works well for many people.
  • Day programmes provide more intensive support during the day, and the person goes home in the evenings.
  • Residential treatment offers 24-hour care in a specialist setting. It is recommended for people who need more support, especially if there are serious physical health risks or if outpatient treatment has not been enough.

Private eating disorder treatment at Castle Health: What to expect

Anorexia treatment

At Castle Health, we treat anorexia using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) along with medical monitoring, nutritional support, and family therapy. If you’re in our residential addiction programme, eating disorder care is included as part of your treatment.

Bulimia treatment

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as the main treatment for bulimia nervosa in adults, and this is the method we use at Castle Health. Since bulimia often happens together with depression, anxiety, or trauma, we always look at your overall wellbeing.

Binge eating disorder treatment

We treat binge eating disorder by addressing the root causes, not just the symptoms, working toward lasting change rather than simply managing episodes. While the therapeutic approaches used across eating disorder treatment at Castle Health are consistent, every treatment plan is tailored to the specific condition and the individual experiencing it.

The cost of eating disorder treatment

The cost of private eating disorder treatment depends on the type and length of care. Many private health insurers cover this treatment, and our team can help guide you through the process. For individual outpatient appointments, prices vary, so please contact us for details.

To find out more about the cost of treatment, you can talk to a member of our team. They’ll be able to answer any questions you might have and discuss your insurance options, too. Contact us to find out more.

Our approach to eating disorder treatment

Our care is provided by a team that includes consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, dietitians, and recovery coaches. Each specialist has a unique role, and they work closely together so that nothing gets overlooked. We focus on physical health, psychological well-being and nutritional recovery at the same time, since lasting recovery relies on all three.

Our care is provided by a team that includes consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, dietitians, and recovery coaches. Each specialist has a unique role, and they work closely together so that nothing gets overlooked. We focus on physical health, psychological well-being and nutritional recovery at the same time, since lasting recovery relies on all three.

Aftercare is a key part of our approach, not something we add on later. We start planning for life after treatment well before discharge. We work with each person and their support network to make sure the right support is ready before they go home, because recovery keeps going long after treatment ends.

Eating disorder treatment in the UK and Europe: locations and access

Castle Health runs two residential sites and a network of outpatient clinics across the UK and Europe.

Castle Craig in Scotland and Smarmore Castle in Ireland are our two residential treatment centres. Both are located in quiet, private areas, away from the stress of daily life, and are designed to help people focus on recovery. Each centre has decades of experience treating complex conditions, including eating disorders that happen alongside addiction.

You can get outpatient treatment in person in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland. If you live elsewhere, you can access assessments and treatment referrals online, so specialist support is available no matter where you are.

All appointments are in English and open to anyone aged 16 or older. You do not need a referral from your GP or the HSE to begin.

Find out more about our locations.

Get started with eating disorder treatment

When you’re ready, our team will walk you through what happens next, from your first conversation through to the start of treatment. If you are a family member or loved one who is worried about someone, we can help you, too. Our team can offer guidance on how to approach those early conversations and what to do next.

To book an assessment, get in touch directly. You do not need a GP or HSE referral.

For emotional support at any time, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123.

Frequently asked questions

Can I access eating disorder treatment through private health insurance in the UK?

Many private health insurers in the UK offer full or partial coverage for eating disorder treatment. Since coverage depends on your policy and provider, it’s a good idea to review your policy details before your assessment. Our team is here to help you with this process.

What are the funding options for private eating disorder therapy?

You can pay for treatment using private health insurance, self-funding, or through employer health schemes. We share all costs upfront so you can decide what works best for you. If you want more details about pricing or payment options, please contact our team.

What are the best eating disorder treatment programmes available near me?

The best treatment for eating disorders for you depends on your individual needs. Castle Health provides outpatient treatment throughout the UK and Europe, and residential care for eating disorders with addiction at Castle Craig in Scotland and Smarmore Castle in Ireland. A clinical assessment will help you find the right path.

Can men get an eating disorder?

Yes. Eating disorders affect men and boys of all ages, but they are often underdiagnosed in men. About one in four people with an eating disorder in the UK is male, and the real number may be even higher. At Castle Health, we treat everyone, regardless of gender, and our care is always tailored to each person.