Eating Disorders

Excess body weight is the most common reason for weight management programmes, however during our personal trainer courses and exercise referral qualifications we often discuss eating disorders. According to NICE, the number of individuals who suffer with eating disorders is increasing. This could be down to a number of reasons which include social media and the perceived pressure to look a certain way. At Fitasylum we feel it’s important to equip our students with an understanding of these conditions, their signs and symptoms and the referral process which needs to be followed. Below are the signs and symptoms of the two most common eating disorders in the UK.

The most common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Both of these conditions can be extremely difficult for the individual and result in extremely awkward circumstances which they may face on a regular basis. According to Active IQ, it should be recognised that although the common symptoms involve not eating or disappearing after eating, the primary cause is often a psychological one and therefore personal trainers and other fitness professionals must have a referral path in place to direct the client to a qualified and suitable professional for help.

It’s also important to be aware that anorexia and bulimia nervosa have some similar signs and symptoms but they also have different signs which are outlined below:

Anorexia

Bulimia

In the majority of cases, clients who suffer with the above eating disorders won’t always react or change their habits from nutrition advice alone. According to Active IQ this is because of the psychological nature of these conditions and this is why the client should be referred to the GP or registered dietician.

The purpose of this blog is to outline the main signs and symptoms of these conditions and also to highlight the importance of referring clients to the relevant healthcare professionals.