Help to tackle eating disorders

11:08am Tuesday 25th July 2006

Eating disorders can affect men and women, from teenagers to the elderly. HELEN BACKWAY has been speaking to sufferers at a day centre to find out more.

THERE is a common misconception anorexia nervosa only affects teenage girls striving to be thin.

‘One of the best things is they don’t give up on people.’

‘JENNY’

But looking around the room at Larkbarrow House, which operates a day centre three to four days a week mainly for those with anorexia, there is a variety of ages.

A 17-year-old, who asked to be known as Vicky, is only on her fourth day there.

She is what you might think is the most typical case.

Vicky started normal dieting but it went too far.

Then there is Sarah, 27, who found she couldn't eat after a relationship ended.

She said: "I didn't think it was a big deal.

"It wasn't until I was told I had an eating disorder a little light went on.

"Admitting it to yourself is the first step."

At the other end of the scale is a 41-year-old mother who asked to be known as Louise.

She works full-time and has suffered from an eating disorder for nine years.

Modern matron Gill Todd says an eating disorder lasts on average six years but some can relapse.

Jenny, who is 29, has relapsed several times and says this is the longest she has been out of hospital in 20 years.

What causes eating disorders is still not certain but there is thought to be a genetic link.

But everyone I spoke to at the centre on the Bethlem Royal Hospital site in Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, said it is not about food.

Sarah said: "There is a perception an eating disorder is when you want to be thin or fit into fashionable jeans.

"It's not like this. I would not want to be thin."

She added: "It's not something you have control over."

Mealtimes at the centre are made as normal as possible with staff and patients eating together and even going out for meals, emphasising the social side of eating.

Senior dietician Caroline Pimblett said: "We don't want to put all the emphasis on food and feeding.

"We try to make it as normal as possible but very, very rarely do they not manage to eat."

The patients come to the day centre from different places.

Some are from the out-patient service, which is run at Larkbarrow House once a week or from the eating disorder unit on the same site where patients stay for several months if their condition is life-threatening.

At the day centre emotional and physical problems are dealt with to get patients back into everyday life.

Programmes consist of group and individual therapy and sessions drawn up from what the patients want to know about, such as food and nutrition and osteoporosis.

Patients benefit from being around those in the same situation and pay tribute to the supportive staff.

Vicky said: "People presumed as I put weight on I was OK but I was screaming inside. They still realise you will be struggling."

Jenny added: "One of the best things is they don't give up on people.

"You can only hit rock bottom so many times and you only have so many chances."

FACTS ABOUT DAY CENTRE

• LARKBARROW House has been in operation since 1999.

• The day centre and out-patients' services costs £600,000 a year to run and are paid for by Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Croydon, Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark Primary Care Trusts.

• There are eight members of staff at the day centre who treat around 12 patients daily.

• Anorexia nervosa is most common in the 15-20 age range but can strike at any time.

• Symptoms include severe weight loss, dizziness, stomach pains and poor circulation.

• Visit eatingresearch.com or edauk.com