I was very pleased and honoured to be asked to provide this foreword. It is always a pleasure to see someone beat their eating disorder, and that pleasure is all the greater when they are able to help others do the same by sharing their experiences.
With this book, Constance has given a remarkable account of her journey to recovery. We know it takes courage, determination and great persistence – qualities that Constance has in abundance. That she has been able to share her insights in such a forthright and honest way is particularly powerful.
Beat (the Eating Disorders Association) is the UK’s leading charity supporting people affected by eating disorders and campaigning on their behalf. We provide individuals and their families with support, information and encouragement to seek recovery. We collaborate with leading researchers, and provide professional development for health, education and social care staff. Our web presence is extensive, and broadcasters and journalists turn to us daily for comment and opinion.
Our message is simple: eating disorders will be beaten. They will be beaten when they are no longer misunderstood, trivialized or seen as something to be ashamed of.
Eating disorders are a serious type of mental illness that takes a tremendous toll on promising young lives. They can be deadly: 20 per cent of those who become seriously affected die as a result. Eating disorders can affect anyone at any age, including boys and men, but girls and young women aged between 12 and 20 are most at risk.
Anorexia nervosa is the rarest of the eating disorders, accounting for only 10 per cent of cases; but it is also the most serious in terms of its potential long-term consequences for physical health and well-being if not treated quickly and effectively.
We are learning more all the time about what causes eating disorders. The causes are complex, and it is a combination of factors that makes some people vulnerable. There is world-class research in this field, much of it conducted in the UK, helping to build an evidence base for understanding this condition and helping effective treatments to be developed. One of the things this research is showing is that more of the risks are ‘hard-wired’ than was previously thought. Our genetic make-up, personality type, brain chemistry and hormones all play a part.
Beat campaigns to change the way everyone thinks and talks about eating disorders, helping to overcome the stigma caused by mistaken views and outdated opinions. Explaining the scientific knowledge we have gained is part of that.
We challenge the media to tell the truth about eating disorders. They are not a fad or a phase or a silly diet gone wrong. They are not about trying to emulate celebrities or fashion. We want everyone with an eating disorder to truly believe they can beat it. We know that the sooner someone gets the specialist treatment they need the more likely they are to make a full recovery. We also know that people can be very reluctant to ask for or accept that help – even once they know they need it – such are the feelings of worthlessness an eating disorder produces.
We want a message of hope – that eating disorders can be beaten – to reach anyone and everyone who needs to hear it. Constance’s story is a hugely powerful expression of that message – that hope.
Susan Ringwood
Chief Executive
Beat