A Free Eating Disorder Toolkit for Young People
If you’ve found yourself searching “Do I have an eating disorder?” or wondering whether your relationship with food is becoming unhealthy, this free resource is designed to help.
It isn’t always easy to recognise when thoughts and behaviours around food, exercise, weight or body image have started to become a problem. You also don’t need to look a certain way or be underweight to be struggling with an eating disorder.
The free JenUp 16+ Eating Disorder Toolkit helps young people understand eating disorders and disordered eating, recognise early warning signs and know when and where to seek support. The toolkit was specifically created to help young people identify eating-disorder behaviours in themselves or a friend.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE 16+ EATING DISORDER TOOLKITDo I have an eating disorder?
There isn’t a simple checklist or online test that can diagnose an eating disorder. However, there are warning signs that may indicate it’s time to speak to someone.
You might notice:
- Thinking about food, calories, weight or your body much more than before
- Skipping meals or restricting foods
- Feeling anxious or guilty after eating
- Becoming frightened of gaining weight
- Exercising excessively or feeling unable to rest
- Avoiding eating around other people
- Developing increasingly strict food or exercise rules
- Frequently checking your body or weight
- Withdrawing from friends or social situations
The JenUp toolkit uses SOLD – Social withdrawal, Low mood, Over-exercising and Dietary changes – to help young people recognise some of these early warning signs.
You don’t need to experience every sign before asking for help.
Eating disorder or disordered eating: what's the difference?
You may be asking “Do I have an eating disorder or disordered eating?”
Disordered eating can describe problematic or irregular eating behaviours that don’t necessarily meet the criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder. Your toolkit explains this distinction and highlights why unhealthy eating behaviours can still deserve attention and support.
Try not to become caught up in whether you’re “sick enough”. If food, exercise or body-image thoughts are causing distress or interfering with everyday life, speak to someone.
You don't have to look like you have an eating disorder
Eating disorders do not have one particular look.
The toolkit challenges the myth that someone has to be extremely thin to have an eating disorder. Eating disorders can affect people across different body shapes and sizes, and you cannot determine whether somebody has one simply by looking at them.
What should I do if I'm worried?
Talk to someone you trust, such as a parent or carer, teacher, GP or school/college wellbeing professional.
You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong before asking for help. You can simply explain the changes you’ve noticed and how you’ve been feeling.
FAQs About Eating Disorders
What are 5 signs of anorexia?
Five possible signs of anorexia can include restricting food or skipping meals, fear of gaining weight, becoming preoccupied with food or weight, excessive or compulsive exercise, and withdrawing from social situations involving food.
Not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and someone does not need to appear underweight to be struggling.
How do I know if I have an eating disorder?
If thoughts about food, weight, exercise or your body are becoming increasingly difficult to manage, causing distress or changing how you live your life, consider seeking professional support.
Can you have an eating disorder and not be underweight?
Yes. Eating disorders can affect people across a range of body sizes. You cannot tell whether somebody has an eating disorder from their appearance alone.
Is skipping meals an eating disorder?
Not necessarily. People skip meals for many reasons. However, regularly skipping meals because of fear of weight gain, calorie restriction or body-image concerns may be a warning sign.
Can disordered eating turn into an eating disorder?
Disordered eating behaviours can become more frequent, rigid or distressing over time. Getting support early can help prevent difficulties becoming more established.
Download the Free Eating Disorder Toolkit
The free JenUp 16+ Eating Disorder Toolkit covers early warning signs, disordered eating, eating-disorder myths, dieting, RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome), body image, social media and where to find support.
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Schools are welcome to download, print and use this resource internally with pupils and staff for educational purposes.
This resource may not be sold, edited, rebranded, or redistributed (including uploading to public websites or sharing outside your school/trust) without written permission from Jenup Community CIC.
