Eating Disorders and Difficulties Workshop

Eating Disorders and Difficulties Workshop

• Do you work with children and young people that have body image and self-esteem issues?

• Do you work with children and young people that show signs of developing an eating disorder?

• Have you worked or are working with a young person who has an eating disorder?

Would you like to have a greater understanding of -

• The different types of eating disorders and related issues

• The causes of eating disorders

• The signs and symptoms associated with eating disorders

• How to communicate with someone who has an eating disorder

First Steps were founded in 2004 as a self-help group and were registered as a charity in 2001. They are Derbyshire’s only specialist eating disorder charity. They support people of all ages with any type of eating disorder or difficulty. In conjunction with First Steps the Children and Young People’s Health Promotion Programme are putting on a free workshop for any professionals working with young people in the Swadllincote and Woodville/Newhall area of South Derbyshire who would like to understand more about eating disorders and difficulties.

Date: 16th January 2013

Time: 3.45pm – 5.45pm

Area: Bar Lounge Green Bank Leisure Centre

If you would like to book a place on to the eating disorders and difficulties workshop please email

There is a lack of data detailing how many people in the UK suffer from an eating disorder. Although the Department of Health provides hospital episode statistics, these only include those affected by eating disorders who are in inpatient NHS treatment. The most accurate figures we are aware of are those from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. These suggest 1.6 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder, of which 11% are male.

Although many eating disorders develop during adolescence, it is not unusual for people to develop an eating disorder earlier or later in life. In fact, we are aware of cases of anorexia nervosa as young as 6. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, from medical complications associated with the illness as well as suicide.

Professionals will also have the opportunity to book with First Steps body image and self-esteem sessions with young people and pupils. First Steps staff are trained by Dove and B-eat (the UKs largest national eating disorder charity) to deliver one hour educational workshops for young people of all ages that aim to give young people the tools to build self-esteem and provide a platform for group discussion on image related concerns.

Many young people develop low self-esteem from hang ups about looks and consequently, fail to reach their full potential in later life. The work carried out by the Dove self-esteem programme and B-eat is focused specifically on preventative work, aiming to help strengthen body confidence.