Eating disorders and disability

Having an eating disorder is an incredibly difficult experience, and in some cases, it can even be considered a disability. This means it can be even more challenging if you’re living with another condition.

It might be harder to manage your symptoms and access the right care and treatment for you, which can feel frustrating and isolating.

You're not alone - it's very common to experience an eating disorder alongside a disability. Support is available, and you can learn more about it below.

What do you mean by ‘disabled’? 

Under the Equality Act 2010, you’re considered disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ impact on your day-to-day activities. This means that a wide range of conditions can fall under this term – including eating disorders themselves.

How can being disabled affect my eating disorder?

Being disabled while experiencing an eating disorder can present many challenges. These may include:

• Misdiagnosis or overlooked symptoms: Eating disorder symptoms may be mistaken for features of your disability, condition or difference. For example, an autistic person might find that their eating disorder symptoms are mistaken for ‘picky eating’. Medical bias may also cause disordered eating symptoms to be overlooked.
• Lack of accessible treatment: Some people may find that their treatment plan isn’t designed to accommodate their disability properly, e.g. buildings or facilities that are difficult to access, or treatment plans that don’t account for neurodivergent thinking or communication styles
• Communication barriers: People with disabilities that affect their ability to communicate might have difficulty expressing their needs and feelings. This can complicate their diagnosis and recovery journey.
• Body image and autonomy issues: Some people may find that they experience a lack of control over their body due to a need to rely on caregivers, medication, or mobility aids. This can fuel disordered eating as a form of control. Additionally, stigma and shame around disabled bodies may make poor body image worse, and drive harmful eating disorder behaviours.
• Lack of research and representation: Some mainstream eating disorder spaces don’t accommodate disabled people properly. This can lead to feeling invisible, misunderstood, or unable to find support.

What can I do to support myself or a loved one in getting treatment?

, it’s important for you to remember that you or your loved one deserves support that works for you. Below are some tips that may help:

• Contact your GP: Speaking to a GP is the first step towards recovery. It may be helpful to bring a trusted friend, loved one or caregiver to your appointment, especially if your disability affects your ability to communicate.
• Create a Health Care Passport: It might be helpful for you to complete a Health Care Passport to show health or care professionals during medical appointments. This includes information about you, including your support needs and preferences around communications. You can find out more here.
• Create a plan for speaking to medical professionals: It can be helpful for you or a trusted person to write down your symptoms before your appointment, or to keep a record of everything that happens during your appointments.
• Ask for reasonable adjustments: Under the Equality Act, you're entitled to adjustments that make treatment more accessible. This might include extra time at appointments, remote therapy, or accessibility accommodations.
• Seek other kinds of professional care: Alongside being treated by medical professionals, it may be useful for you to engage in therapy or counselling.
• If you are supporting a loved one: Ask, don’t assume - remember that everyone’s experience is different. What helps one person might feel overwhelming or unhelpful to another. You should ask your loved one how they’d like to be supported and respect their preferences. You don't need to be an expert, showing up and trying to understand makes all the difference.

We also recognise that experiences of eating disorders and disability can be affected by other aspects of identity e.g., race, gender, and socio-economic background. Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can also contact our Helpline which is open from 3pm-8pm Monday to Friday.