The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - a900 Beat A5 8pp GP Leaflet … · 2017. 10. 9. ·...

For more information, please visit www.b-eat.co.uk. While Beat doesn’t offer clinical treatment, other services such as its Helpline and online support may also be helpful to your patient.

For more information, visit www.b-eat.co.uk. You can call or email Beat’s Helpline to discuss anything in this leaflet.

Seeking treatment for an eating disorder? The first step is a GP appointment.

In this leaflet, you’ll find sections giving guidance for the person who has or may have an eating disorder, the people supporting them, and the GP. Take it along to the appointment to refer to. You can also write notes in the space provided.

The information in this leaflet is supported by guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The guidelines are based on the best available evidence and the GP should take them into account when making decisions about the healthcare of the person you’re supporting. You can see the full guidelines at www.nice.org.uk.

Remember, the goal at the end of the appointment is for the person you’re supporting to get a specialist clinical referral, and if this isn’t the result of the initial appointment, they have the right to ask to see a different GP. Don’t be daunted and don’t give up – be confident in the knowledge that they deserve treatment, and the sooner a referral is made, the better the chance of recovery.

Misunderstandings you might come across

What the person is experiencing hasn’t been going on long enough.

The person’s weight isn’t low enough for them to need a referral.

This may be a phase, so the person should try to eat normally and come back again.

Things you can do or say

This is a good reason for a speedy referral! The sooner eating disorder symptoms are treated, the better the chance of recovery.

This is a mental health problem, and can’t be judged using physical criteria alone. Weight loss won’t occur in all cases, and guidelines suggest weight shouldn’t be a primary factor in the referral process.

These comments show the need for a specialist referral. Eating disorders are a serious mental illness and need to be assessed and treated by those with an appropriate level of understanding. Waiting could mean the illness progresses further.

Their weight is not dangerously low – should referral be delayed?No – weight and BMI shouldn’t be considered as the sole clinical indicators of an eating disorder. Weight loss won’t always occur. We strongly advise not to use physical parameters to assess whether someone has an eating disorder, as it is a mental health issue. (NICE sec. 4.4.1.1)

The patient is denying that this is a serious problem. Maybe this is a ‘phase’?

Denial of illness can conversely be a strong clinical indicator, and is a feature of the diagnostic criteria for anorexia, for example (DSM 5). If in doubt, don’t wait – refer to specialists.

Who is in the best position to make an eating disorder assessment? Due to the complexity and low prevalence of eating disorders, NICE (Sec. 4.4.2.4) recommend a specialist healthcare professional trained to manage the psychological and physical aspects of eating disorders. We therefore strongly recommend your patient is referred for assessment as soon as possible.

Thank you for reading this leaflet. By referring this patient for a specialist assessment as quickly as possible, you’ll help to give them a greater chance of a full recovery.

A charity registered in England and Wales (801343) and Scotland (SC039309).

Company limited by guarantee no 2368495

Sources used to create this information are available by contacting Beat on 0300 123 3355 or emailing [email protected]. We welcome your feedback on our information resources and whether you found them helpful. Email [email protected] with your comments.

Published: February 2017 Review date: February 2020

Leaflet created with

support from the

Before the appointment, use this space to write down symptoms

or behaviour you’re concerned about, and questions you have

for the GP.

Help for adultsHelpline: 0808 801 0677 • Email: [email protected]

Help for young peopleYouthline: 0808 801 0711 • Email: [email protected]

Online supportVisit www.b-eat.co.uk for information about eating disorders, message boards and online support groups.

Use helpfinder.b-eat.co.uk to find services in your area.

beatED beating.eating.disorders

Beat, Wensum House, 103 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, NR1 1DW

0300 123 3355 | www.b-eat.co.uk | [email protected]

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This leaflet is for people who are supporting someone with an eating disorder as they seek treatment, and is designed to give you some guidance during a GP appointment so you can help them get a referral for specialist assessment. There are also sections for the person you’re supporting and for the GP.

• If you or the person you’re supporting are uncertain about whether they have an eating disorder, go to www.b-eat.co.uk to familiarise yourself with the symptoms, or see our booklet for anyone supporting someone with an eating disorder, available on our site. You can also see our HelpFinder for services available in your area.

• Ensure a GP appointment is set up straight away. The sooner people can get help, the better their chance of recovery. You can ask for a double appointment to allow more time.

• If they’d like you to, attend the appointment with the person you’re supporting. Discuss beforehand what role they’d like you to take, and help them write down their symptoms and concerns to take along so they’re not put on the spot. You or they can write them in the space provided in this leaflet.

• Ensure the GP is given our GP guide at the beginning of the appointment, and support the person in making sure they don’t leave without a referral.

The GP may ask you to leave the room for part of the assessment; this is normal. You should be asked back in for the end of the appointment to plan next steps.

Ideally, the GP will be understanding and make a referral to a specialist clinician who’ll be able to assess the needs of the person you’re supporting and develop a treatment plan. Because GPs aren’t specialists in eating disorders, they may have some misconceptions about these illnesses. In that case, there are some things you can say overleaf. You can refer them to the GP guide for more information.

This leaflet is designed by Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, to help ensure that patients who are worried they may have an eating disorder get the help and support they need as soon as possible. One in six people who approach their GP about an eating disorder decide to see a different GP (Beat 2017). This leaflet answers some questions you may have if you’re not familiar with eating disorders and addresses some misconceptions about these mental illnesses.

All the advice in this leaflet follows the NICE guidelines for eating disorders. The guidelines are clear that the sooner treatment is accessed, the better the chance of recovery.

Does my patient have an eating disorder, and if so what do I do?

NICE Guidelines (Sec. 4.3.1.2) suggest asking screening questions to find out if a patient feels like they have an eating disorder, but the fact that you have been given this leaflet is already an indicator that this is the case.

Because of the relatively low prevalence of eating disorders and their highly specialised level of required care, we recommend immediate referral for specialist assessment. Ensure you enter “eating disorder” into SNOMED CT / READ code.

Would it be better to wait to see if things get better or worse before referring?No – patients should be assessed and receive treatment at the earliest opportunity. There can be serious long-term consequences to delayed referral. (NICE sec. 4.2.3.1)

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I’m worried about someone I know

GP guide to eating disorders

I think I may have an eating disorder


What you’re experiencing hasn’t been going on long enough.

Your weight isn’t low enough for you to need a referral.

This may be a phase, so you should try to eat normally and come back again.




Any comments like these show why a specialist referral should be made. Eating disorders are a serious mental illness and need to be assessed and treated by those with an appropriate level of understanding. Waiting could mean the illness progresses further.

The information in this leaflet is supported by guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The guidelines are based on the best available evidence and your GP should take them into account when making decisions about your healthcare. You can see the full guidelines at www.nice.org.uk.

Remember, your goal is to have your GP refer you to a specialist, and if this isn’t the result of your initial appointment, you have the right to ask to see a different GP. Don’t be daunted and don’t give up. Be confident in the knowledge that you deserve treatment, and that the sooner a referral is made, the better.

This leaflet is for anyone who has or is concerned they have an eating disorder. It’s designed to give you some guidance during a GP appointment and help you get a referral for specialist assessment. There’s also a section for anyone supporting you and a section to give to your GP.

• Make an appointment with your GP straight away. The sooner you can get treatment, the better. You can ask for a double appointment to allow yourself more time.

• Take a supportive person with you if you’d like to. It’s normal for some GPs to ask to speak to you alone for some of the appointment, but your supportive person can come back in to discuss next steps together.

• Give your GP as much information as you can, including the “GP guide to eating disorders” part of this leaflet. It may help to write down your symptoms and any concerns to take with you, so you don’t have to think on the spot. You can write them in the space provided in this leaflet.

Ideally, your GP will be understanding and make a referral for you to see a specialist clinician who will be able to assess your needs and develop a treatment plan. Because GPs don’t specialise in eating disorders, they may have some misconceptions about these illnesses. In that case, there are some things that you or your supportive person can say below. You can refer the GP to the GP guide for more information.

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The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - a900 Beat A5 8pp GP Leaflet … · 2017. 10. 9. ·...

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