Eating disorders — including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and ARFID — are serious mental health conditions with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric diagnosis. Recovery is possible with specialist treatment. The therapies described here are adjunct support alongside specialist eating disorder services, not replacements for them.
See therapies that may helpEating disorders involve persistent disturbances in eating behaviour driven by underlying psychological difficulties. They are not about food per se — food and weight serve as a way of managing emotional pain, establishing control, or meeting deeper psychological needs.
Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages and body sizes and are significantly underdiagnosed in men, people in larger bodies and people of colour. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, please seek specialist assessment promptly — Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk) can guide you to appropriate services.
Signs of an eating disorder may include:
Eating disorders require specialist treatment. These approaches are adjunct support alongside specialist care:
Please seek specialist help promptly. Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk) has an adult helpline (0808 801 0677) and can direct you to specialist services. Ask your GP specifically for referral to an eating disorder service. NHS eating disorder services exist in all regions.
Showing 16 therapies linked to Eating disorder recovery support (alongside specialist care).
| Therapy | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapist |
strong
|
CBT-E for eating disorder recovery. |
| Counsellor |
strong
|
Core use for eating disorder recovery support. |
| Dietitian |
strong
|
Dietitian: nutritional rehabilitation for eating disorders. |
| Psychotherapist |
strong
|
Core use for eating disorder recovery. |
| Arts Therapist |
moderate
|
Arts therapy in eating disorder recovery. |
| EMDR Practitioner |
moderate
|
EMDR for eating disorder trauma component. |
| EFT Practitioner |
moderate
|
EFT in eating disorder recovery. |
| Havening Techniques Practitioner |
moderate
|
Havening for eating disorder recovery. |
| Hypnotherapist |
limited
|
Adjunct support for eating disorder recovery. |
| ISTDP Practitioner |
moderate
|
ISTDP for eating disorder recovery. |
| Matrix Reimprinting Practitioner |
moderate
|
Matrix reimprinting for eating disorder recovery. |
| Mindfulness Practitioner |
moderate
|
Mindfulness in eating disorder recovery. |
| NLP Practitioner |
moderate
|
NLP for eating disorder recovery. |
| Nutritional Therapist |
moderate
|
Nutritional rehabilitation in eating disorder recovery alongside specialist care. |
| Relationship Therapist |
moderate
|
Relationship therapy in eating disorder recovery. |
| Physiotherapist |
limited
|
Exercise support in eating disorder recovery. |
No — eating disorders are complex mental health conditions in which food and weight serve psychological functions such as managing emotional pain or establishing control. Many people with eating disorders are not primarily motivated by thinness, and many are not visibly underweight.
Yes — approximately 25% of people with eating disorders are male, though this is likely an underestimate due to under-diagnosis. Men are less likely to be diagnosed because eating disorders are culturally associated with women. Men with eating disorders deserve and benefit from specialist care.
Yes — full recovery is absolutely possible and many people achieve it. Recovery is typically a longer process than for other mental health conditions and often involves setbacks, but the majority of people who access specialist treatment see significant improvement.
No — eating disorders occur across all body sizes. Bulimia, binge eating disorder and ARFID typically do not involve low weight. Weight is not a reliable indicator of the presence or severity of an eating disorder.
Express concern directly, describing behaviours you have observed rather than commenting on weight or appearance. Encourage them to speak to a GP or contact Beat. Be patient — ambivalence about change is normal in eating disorders, and your consistent, non-judgemental presence matters even if they do not immediately seek help.