Autism and Eating Disorders

By Vicky

Anorexia nervosa is...

Deliberate self-starvation resulting in drastic weight loss. Sufferers have a Body Mass Index of 17.5 or

lower. (A BMI of 19 – 24 is considered healthy.)

An obsessive fear of becoming fat, even when very underweight.

An illness that kills one in five of its sufferers.

Anorexia nervosa is not...

Selfish vanity

A modern fad caused by size 0 models

Always the result of preoccupation with body image

A female illness

Bulimia nervosa is...

A compulsion to eat unusually large quantities of food in one sitting, which are then purged.

A feeling of uncontrollable guilt and disgust.

A potentially fatal illness that can cause cardiac arrest or rupture of the oesophagus even in the early

stages.

Bulimia nervosa is not...

Greed

Always about being sick

Immediately obvious to onlookers

An eating disorder: a way of using food to deal with your emotions and

cope with your life.

Eating Disorders in Autistic People – Why?

Stressful life events (especially bullying).

Strong preference for routine and order.

Perfectionism.

A desire to escape.

Choices and changes.

Getting better? Make use of your

special interests and fascinations.

Take the logical approach.

Find an emotional 'language' that makes sense to you.

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."

e.e. cummings

“The finest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to oneself.”

Michel de Montaigne

B-eatwww.b-eat.co.uk

Britain's largest eating disorder charity. Has a wealth of information and advice on EDs.

Men Get Eating Disorders Toowww.mengetedstoo.com

Information on EDs in male sufferers.

Maytree Respite Centrewww.maytree.org.uk

Support and sanctuary for people who are feeling suicidal. Very autistic-friendly.

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapywww.counselling.co.uk

Allows you to find an accredited counsellor in your area based on their expertise.

Going Against the Flowwww.swimformencap.wordpress.com

My training and recovery blog.