Eating Disorders in the school environment

Although eating disorders can affect anyone, young people are particularly at risk, with onset often occurring during adolescence.

For those at risk of, or already suffering from eating disorders, some specific signs can become more apparent during the school term.

As the start of a new school year approaches, there are specific signs of eating disorders education staff, carers and families can look out for, that may become more apparent during the academic term, including: 

• Social isolation

• Avoiding eating around others

• Difficulty concentrating

• Tiredness

• Irritability

• Low confidence and self-esteem

• Anxiety

• Obsessive and/or rigid behaviour

• Perfectionism, including setting unreasonably high personal standards and increased concern about making errors

• Excessive neatness

• Decreasing handwriting size

• Changes to weight – either gaining or losing weight, or experiencing fluctuating weight