Safety Centre

Eating disorders

Updated: April 30, 2025

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What are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person's relationship with food, exercise and their body. Common eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Otherwise Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, wealth, body shape and size, or ethnicity. Many individuals can be struggling with an eating disorder while still looking "healthy".

How do I know when to get help?

If you or someone you know has questions about body image, food or exercise, it is important to know that help is out there, recovery is possible and you are not alone.

Many people experience ups and downs in relation to food, exercise and/or body image. When your relationship with food, exercise and/or your body continues to have a negative effect on your day-to-day life (such as ability to attend work or school, socialising, medical consequences), it can be a sign to reach out for help. Remember, you don’t have to be in immediate trouble or look a certain way to seek support. Everyone deserves support, and recovery is possible.

What can I do if I think I need help?

The bravest thing you can do is acknowledge that you may need help and confide in someone you trust. Opening up is often how you can start on the path of finding self-acceptance, validation and hope of recovery. You may want different forms of support depending on your needs and comfort levels. It’s also okay if you are not sure what support options you need or even where to start. Here are some resources you could consider getting help from:

Trusted friends, family or religious communities. Friends, family, teachers, coaches, colleagues and/or a religious community (if you identify with one), can be a great source of support and encouragement. Even if they don't fully understand, they can listen, offer validation and support, and remind you that you don't have to go through this alone. Having resources ahead of the conversation can be extremely helpful as well.
Helplines and crisis support. Helplines can connect you to trained professionals who will ask questions about how you are feeling, if you are at risk of hurting yourself, and what sort of support you need. Helplines can also provide referrals to medical or mental health professionals.
Medical or mental health professionals. A primary care provider or psychotherapist, preferably one who has knowledge of eating disorders, can help you assess changes in your emotions and behaviours, refer you to eating disorder specialists and explore treatment options.
Peer support. Talking to peers who have recovered, or are recovering, from an eating disorder can be empowering and validating. Local/national support communities may also offer phone lines and support groups with individuals with lived experience with mental health conditions.

What can I do to support a friend?

Being part of the wider TikTok community means making sure your fellow community members feel safe and supported. We encourage you to let us know if you feel concerned about another person on the platform, or if you see something that you don’t think should be on TikTok you can say something.

If you have a friend struggling with their relationship with food, exercise or their body, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how you can help. Here are some actions you can take to support someone you are concerned about:

For friends who have not sought help yet, start the conversation.
Listen with empathy and without judgement. Avoid doing or saying things that might make your friend feel guilty or ashamed, such as being too critical or providing simple solutions like “just eat”. Eating disorders are rarely only about food and, instead, are mental health disorders that can be a coping mechanism for deeper emotional distress. Sharing what may seem like an obvious solution can make your friend feel misunderstood. Instead, ask your friend open-ended questions, such as “how are you feeling today?” Listen to their answer without judging, fixing or interrupting, even if you don’t necessarily agree with some of what they say.
Offer to connect them with resources. It can be hard for people who are struggling to reach out for help on their own. You can play an important role in your friend's recovery by encouraging them to seek professional help from a therapist or healthcare provider, contact a helpline or get in touch with a local support group.
For friends on their recovery journey, encourage them.
Encourage recovery. Be encouraging of your friend, especially if they encounter setbacks along their recovery journey, as it will not be linear or perfect. Remind them of their progress and wins, no matter how small.
Redirect unhelpful topics. Avoid making any comments on their (or your own) appearance, weight or food. Such comments can be taken as negative, unhelpful or make them feel self-conscious. Instead, try to focus on the helpful, non-eating disorder parts of their life, including their interests, personality and daily wins.
No matter what, take care of yourself: Providing a listening and supportive ear to those around you takes significant energy. It may leave you feeling distressed or burnt out. If you notice that supporting a friend is taking a toll on your own mental health, don't be afraid to take a break, set healthy boundaries or talk to someone you trust.

More information about how to support friends who are experiencing mental health difficulties is available in TikTok's Well-Being Guide.

Talk to a professional

If you are considering harming yourself or if your eating disorder is causing serious health concerns (such as fainting or heart palpitations), please contact a healthcare provider, emergency services or a helpline immediately.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or if you are concerned about the well-being of a friend or family member, consider approaching a trusted adult, contacting a local eating support group or seeking professional help. Below are some resources that may help:

Learn more

Is it normal to be constantly thinking about your shape and weight?

It’s common to occasionally think about your weight and shape. However, if these thoughts take up a lot of time and leave you feeling obsessed, upset, worried or stressed, you may need some support. Approach someone you trust and get the help you deserve. You are not alone and help is out there.

What are some tips for coping with disordered eating?

Seek medical and mental healthcare

Tips shared on this page are informed by eating disorder organisations that partner with us at TikTok. However, everyone's mental health is unique. The best way to find out how to cope with disordered eating is to approach a medical or mental healthcare provider who can work this out with you. If reaching out to a healthcare provider feels hard, you don't have to do it alone. Friends, family, peers and helplines can support you in connecting to care.

Take a break when you need it

We live so much of our lives online, and sometimes we may find ourselves drawing comparisons to others. Recognise these feelings and give yourself a break if things become overwhelming. Try doing something that makes you feel better and relieves stress, such as getting out into nature, listening to music, connecting with friends or practising meditation. If you notice that interacting with an account or person has a negative effect on you, consider unfollowing.

Notice your “self-talk”

It’s common to have self-talk as running commentary on how we feel and everything around us. Sometimes self-talk can become negative and toxic, which can make us feel worse. Try to practise speaking to yourself in a kind, patient and caring way. Talking to yourself should be similar to talking to your best friend.

Find your inner strengths and positive attributes

It’s easy to get sucked into the belief that how you look is who you are. In reality, we are more than our bodies. How you think, behave and affect the world is more important than your physical appearance. Try to think about all your strengths and the values you hold that go beyond appearance. Focusing on these can help you see the bigger picture and feel good about yourself and your accomplishments.
For example, you could start each morning by saying “I am grateful for my beating heart that keeps me living. I am grateful for my strength in dealing with tough circumstances.”

Get to know your triggers and plan ahead

Eating disorder behaviours can often come up during triggering circumstances, such as studying for exams, changes in routine, stress around food gatherings, or family celebrations such as holidays. Get to know what brings up uncomfortable or negative emotions about your appearance and/or body. Plan ahead by making a list to prepare for how you will get support if you do feel triggered.
For example, you could ask someone you trust to help you around your triggers, so you feel more confident about staying on track during hard times.

How can I safely share about my experiences with disordered eating on TikTok?

If you are considering sharing your story on TikTok, please consider reviewing [sharing story guide] for tips. Also, review the "Disordered Eating and Body Image" section of our Community Guidelines.

Disclaimer

The content provided on this page is for information purposes and educational use only. “The Eating Disorder Topic Page” should not be deemed a substitute for medical, psychological or psychiatric diagnosis, treatment or advice. Do not hesitate to seek professional medical support or immediate emergency assistance if you, or any other person, are in a crisis, danger or experiencing a medical emergency. Please remember that you are not solely responsible for others' safety – you can get help.

This Safety Centre was developed with expert consultation from the National Alliance for Eating Disorders.