Two veterinary surgeons have kindly agreed to share their personal experiences of eating disorders and the steps they have taken to recover in the hope that it will encourage others to seek help:

Download a vet's personal account of dealing with anorexia
Download a vet's peronal account of dealing with bulimia

The university vet schools currently estimate that 10% of their pupils are suffering from eating disorders and that the illness has usually started before they come to university. Statistics for the veterinary profession are not available but in the general population beat (formerly the Eating Disorders Association) calculate that the combined total for people diagnosed and undiagnosed with an eating disorder in the UK is 1.15 million.

12 questions that may help you decide if you have a problem:

1. Do your friends and family tell you that you are too thin?
2. Are you extremely anxious about gaining any weight?
3. Do you look at yourself in the mirror and see an overweight person even though weight charts say that your weight is average or below average?
4. Does your self-esteem depend on what you weigh?
5. Do you vomit in order to purge yourself of food or use exercise?
6. If you are a woman, have you stopped having periods?
7. Do you use laxatives, diuretics or enemas to lose weight?
8. Do you lose control of your eating by binging a couple of times a week?
9. Do you have health issues related to food such as worn dental enamel, hair loss, hypoglycaemia or osteoporosis?
10. Are you afraid of losing total control of your weight and eating?
11. Are your eating habits a cause for concern to others?
12. Is the quality of your life dramatically affected by your relationship to food?

(Source: lifeworkscommunity.com)

Getting Help

• The first step for help would usually be your GP or your university health centre or counselling department.
  
• The Veterinary Surgeons’ Health Support Programme is available to provide completely confidential professional help with alcohol, drug, addiction & mental health issues and can direct you to more specialist help for your easting disorder.  Contact the National Co-ordinator on 07946 634220 or at  VSHSP@vetlife.org.uk
  
• If you would like to speak to someone with personal experience of the veterinary profession about whatever is troubling you, Vet Helpline offers an empathetic listening service.
  Tel: 07659 811 118 (local call rates apply, 24hr rapid response answer phone).
  
• b-eat the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, offer information and help on all aspects of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and related eating disorders. They provide a searchable database for help and also run a network of self-help groups which you could use if you are not yet in treatment and want some extra help and support to take the first step or if you are getting treatment but need extra support. The groups can provide you with an opportunity to meet other people who may be in a similar situation to yourself, and to share experiences or just to listen to others. They also offer support groups for carers, who may be looking after an individual with eating distress.
  Tel: 0845 634 1414 Helpline
  Email: help@b-eat.co.uk
  
• Many people with eating disorders may find that they deal with the difficult emotional issues in their life by turning to alcohol or drugs to help boost their confidence or self-esteem. At least partial rehabilitation may be necessary before treatment for the eating disorder can start. Again, contacting the VSHSP National Co-ordinator on 07946 634220 or at VSHSP@vetlife.org.uk or other support could help you to start the recovery process.
  
• Overeaters Anonymous - 12 step fellowship for compulsive overeaters
  Tel: 07000 784 985