HELP AND SUPPORT
A place to find help
Eating, weight and body concerns can cause psychological distress and affect day-to-day life. Experiencing difficult thoughts, feelings or behaviours can feel isolating and overwhelming. Sometimes connecting, reading or learning more about eating, body and weight can intensify difficult emotions or behaviours, leaving you feeling vulnerable and in need of support. This page brings together a small number of UK sources of information, listening support and help.
Eating Body and Weight Matters provides relational psychotherapy, supervision, teaching and educational resources. It is not a crisis or emergency service, and emails to this website are not monitored as an urgent-support route.
Support with eating difficulties and eating disorders
Beat
Beat is the UK’s eating-disorder charity. Its helpline and online support offer information, a supportive space to talk and guidance on possible next steps for people affected by an eating disorder, including family members and friends. You do not need a formal diagnosis to seek support.
Beat’s ways of getting in touch and opening times can change, so please use its website for current phone, webchat, email and online-group options. Its HelpFinder can also help you look for local support and treatment.
Mind
Mind provides useful information about a range of eating problems, including treatment and support options. Its guidance explains how to seek help from a GP, the kinds of talking therapies that may be offered, and what inpatient or day-patient care can involve. It also makes clear that people should be offered support even if they do not have a formal diagnosis.
First Steps ED
First Steps ED is an eating-disorder support and recovery charity for children, young people, adults and families affected by eating difficulties or eating disorders. It offers early-help, therapy and lived-experience support, and works alongside NHS and local health services to help people find appropriate support in their community.
Overeaters Anonymous Great Britain
Overeaters Anonymous Great Britain is a peer-support fellowship for people who feel they have a problem with food or compulsive eating. It offers in-person and online meetings, a twelve-step programme and shared resources. This may be helpful to some people, but it is not a replacement for medical or specialist eating-disorder care where that is needed.
Examples of groups and peer support
Different kinds of group support suit different people. Examples include Beat’s online support groups; First Steps ED groups and lived-experience support, where available; Overeaters Anonymous Great Britain in-person and online meetings; and local carers’ groups, which can often be found through Carers UK or a local carers’ organisation. These groups vary in their focus and format, so it can be helpful to read the information provided and choose support that feels appropriate for you.
When you need someone to listen
Samaritans
Samaritans offers a free, confidential listening service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Call 116 123, free, any time of day or night.
Papyrus — prevention of young suicide
Papyrus provides confidential support for children and young people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, and for anyone concerned about a young person. HOPELINE247 is available by phone, text, email and online chat, 24 hours a day.
Speaking with a health professional
Your GP can be a helpful first point of contact for concerns about eating, physical health or mental health. They can discuss what is happening, consider any medical needs and help you access appropriate services. In England, specialist eating-disorder care may be provided through community teams, day-patient programmes or inpatient services, depending on a person’s needs.
For example, adults may be supported by local all-age or adult eating-disorder teams; young people may be supported through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). In Kent, people may hear services referred to as FREED or the All-Age Eating Disorder Service. Availability, referral routes and eligibility vary by area, so a GP or current care team can advise on the options nearest to you.
Most people receive care while living at home, with appointments through a community or outpatient team. If someone needs more intensive support, a specialist team may discuss day-patient or inpatient care. Residential treatment is sometimes available through independent providers, but it is important to discuss the appropriate route, costs and clinical suitability with a GP, specialist team or insurer before making arrangements.
If you are already receiving care from a mental-health or eating-disorder service, follow your agreed care or crisis plan, or contact the team supporting you.
If you are supporting someone else
Supporting a loved one with a serious eating difficulty can feel overwhelming and anxiety-provoking. It can be hard to know what to say, what to do or how to help. If you care for someone with an eating disorder or disordered eating, you may need support too.
Beat offers information specifically for family members, friends, carers and other supporters. Its Eating Disorder Support Hub for Families and Friends provides an online carer community with workshops, courses and forums. You may also find it helpful to seek personal therapy, a carers’ support group or local support through a carers’ organisation.