Autism-anorexia link ‘must be acted on’

Anorexia and autism

Anorexia and autism

The NHS must change the way it assesses eating disorders to take account of a link with autism, a research charity has said.

Autistica said findings suggested one in five women presenting to UK clinics with anorexia may also have autism and tailored therapy was vital.

One woman said her autism had made her “obsessed” with counting calories, even though she did not want to lose weight.

Health watchdog NICE said more research was required.

Sophie McInnes, 24, told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme her anorexia had developed not from issues surrounding body image or weight but because she had developed a set of rules for herself about how many calories she could eat.

She said she had wanted to put on weight but her autism – at that stage undiagnosed – had meant she would not let herself.

“It was all about the calories, all about the numbers,” she said, having begun to write down what she was eating aged 19.

“I actually admitted myself into the eating disorder unit because I had started exercising a lot and I wasn’t eating anything.

“They put me in a wheelchair and said my weight was so low that if I didn’t eat, I would need to be sectioned.”

Read the rest of the article here.

Anorexia nervosa – an overview

Anorexia and autism

Anorexia and autism

Anorexia is an eating disorder and serious mental health condition.

People who have anorexia try to keep their weight as low as possible by not eating enough food or exercising too much, or both. This can make them very ill because they start to starve.

They often have a distorted image of their bodies, thinking they are fat even when they are underweight.

Men and women of any age can get anorexia, but it’s most common in young women and typically starts in the mid-teens.

Signs and symptoms of anorexia

Signs and symptoms of anorexia include:

if you’re under 18, your weight and height being lower than expected for your age

if you’re an adult, having an unusually low body mass index (BMI)

missing meals, eating very little or avoiding eating any foods you see as fattening

believing you are fat when you are a healthy weight or underweight

taking medication to reduce your hunger (appetite suppressants)

your periods stopping (in women who have not reached menopause) or not starting (in younger women and girls)

physical problems, such as feeling lightheaded or dizzyhair loss or dry skin

Some people with anorexia may also make themselves sick, do an extreme amount of exercise, or use medication to help them poo (laxatives) or to make them pee (diuretics) to try to stop themselves gaining weight from any food they do eat.

Read more about the symptoms of anorexia and warning signs in others.

Getting help for anorexia

Getting help and support as soon as possible gives you the best chance of recovering from anorexia.

If you think you may have anorexia, even if you are not sure, see your GP as soon as you can.

They will ask you questions about your eating habits and how you’re feeling, and will check your overall health and weight.

They may also refer you for some blood tests to make sure your weight loss is not caused by something else.

If they think you may have anorexia, or another eating disorder, they should refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists.

It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and to ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment.

You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling its adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.

Getting help for someone else

If you’re concerned that a family member or friend may have anorexia, let them know you’re worried about them and encourage them to see their GP. You could offer to go along with them.

Read more about talking to your child about eating disorders and supporting someone with an eating disorder.

Treatment for anorexia

You can recover from anorexia, but it may take time and recovery will be different for everyone.

Your treatment plan will be tailored to you and should consider any other support you might need, such as for depression or anxiety.

If you are over 18, you should be offered a type of talking therapy to help you manage your feelings about food and eating so that you are able to eat enough to be healthy. Talking therapies that are commonly used to treat anorexia in adults include:

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA)

specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM)

If you are under 18, you should be offered family therapy. You may also be offered another type of talking therapy, such as CBT or adolescent-focused psychotherapy.

Read more about the treatments for anorexia.

Health risks of anorexia

Long-term anorexia can lead to severe health problems associated with not getting the right nutrients (malnutrition). But these will usually start to improve once your eating habits return to normal.

Possible complications include:

problems with muscles and bones – including feeling tired and weak, osteoporosis, and problems with physical development in children and young adults

fertility problems

loss of sex drive

problems with the heart and blood vessels – including poor circulation, an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, heart valve disease, heart failure, and swelling in the feet, hands or face (oedema)

problems with the brain and nerves – including fits (seizures), and difficulties with concentration and memory

kidney or bowel problems

having a weakened immune system or anaemia

Anorexia can also put your life at risk. It’s one of the leading causes of deaths related to mental health problems. Deaths from anorexia may be due to physical complications or suicide.

Causes of anorexia

We don’t know exactly what causes anorexia and other eating disorders. You may be more likely to get an eating disorder if:

you or a member of your family has a history of eating disorders, depression, or alcohol or drug addiction

you have been criticised for your eating habits, body shape or weight

you are overly concerned with being slim, particularly if you also feel pressure from society or your job – for example, ballet dancers, jockeys, models or athletes

you have anxiety, low self-esteem, an obsessive personality or are a perfectionist

you have been sexually abused

Anorexia nervosa: why do so many people in the autism community have eating disorders as well? What is your experience?

Anorexia and autism

Anorexia and autism

Anorexia nervosa: why do so many people in the autism community have eating disorders as well? What is your experience?

In this video Mair and William discuss anorexia nervosa in autistic people, how it presents and how to support autistic people with the disorder. The interview was filmed for Network Autism at the National Autistic Society Professional Conference in 2018.

Anorexia nervosa in autistic people: an interview with Mair Elliott and Dr William Mandy from National Autistic Society on Vimeo.

Supporting someone with an eating disorder

Supporting someone with an eating disorder

Supporting someone with an eating disorder

If your friend or relative has an eating problem, they will eventually have to get professional help from a doctor, practice nurse, or a school or college nurse.

If a friend or relative has an eating disorder, such as anorexiabulimia or binge eating, you might want to encourage them to speak to someone about it. You could go with them for support if they want you to.

But there are other things you can do. You’re already doing a great job by finding out how to help them – it shows you care.

You may have noticed your friend has changed. They may no longer go out or want to be included in things.

Keep trying to include them, just like before. Even if they don't join in, they will still like to be asked. It will make them feel valued as a person.

You can also try to build up their self-esteem, perhaps by telling them what a great person they are and how much you appreciate having them as a friend.

Try not to give advice or criticism. Give your time and listen to them. This can be tough when you don't agree with what they say about themselves and what they eat.

Remember, you don't have to know all the answers. Just being there is what's important. This is especially true when it feels like your friend or relative is rejecting your friendship, help and support.

How are eating disorders treated?

Treatment for eating disorders varies around the country. Different types of help may be offered depending on where you live.

Treatment includes dealing with the emotional issues as well as the physical, but this must be done slowly so your friend or relative is able to cope with the changes.

Treatment will involve your friend or relative talking to someone about the emotional difficulties that have led to their eating disorder. It will also explore their physical problems, general health and eating patterns. Help with eating and putting on weight is usually not enough.

The earlier your friend or relative embarks on the treatment programme and the more they engage with it, the better their chances of making a good recovery.

Will they have to go into hospital?

Most people with eating disorders are seen as outpatients. This means they visit the hospital - for example, one day a week. In severe cases, they might need to visit the hospital more often, or be admitted to hospital for more intensive support and treatment (known as inpatient care).

Should I visit them in hospital?

This depends on what your friend wants, how you feel and what the treatment centre allows. Let them know you're thinking of them and would like to visit them. If this is not possible, you can always write to them or call to let them know you're still there to support them.

Can people be forced to get help for eating disorders?

If your friend or relative has lost a lot of weight, they may be in danger of starving themselves and developing serious complications. They may not be able to think clearly and may refuse life-saving treatment.

In these circumstances, their doctor may decide to admit them to hospital for specialist treatment. This can only be done after the doctor has consulted colleagues and they agree with the doctor's decision. This is called being sectioned and it is done under the rules of the Mental Health Act.

Will they be cured when they come home?

Your friend or relative will still need your support. Most people with an eating disorder do recover and learn to use more positive ways of coping.

But recovery from an eating disorder can be very difficult and can take a long time. Part of your friend may want to get better, while the other part might be very scared about giving up the eating disorder. They might think, "I want to get better, but just don't want to gain weight."

They will probably have good days and bad days. During times of stress, the eating difficulties may return. Changing the way people with eating disorders think and feel is never easy and it takes time.

Eating Disorders – What are the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder?

Eating Disorders – What are the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder?

It has been a few years since we took a look at eating disorders here at Patient Talk.

With around one in ten of us suffering from an eating disorder (anorexia , bulimia or binge eating) we felt that it would be a great idea to share this very useful infographic with our readers.

We would very much appreciate it if you would share this information with your friends and family!

Castlewood Treatment Center – Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms Infographic