Beat is the UK's leading charity supporting those affected by

eating disorder An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. Only one eating disorder can be diagnosed at a given time. Types of eating disorders include binge eating d ...

s and campaigning on their behalf. Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, it celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019. The charity is dedicated to helping people with

anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. ''Anorexia'' is a term of Gr ...

, bulimia,

binge eating disorder Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by frequent and recurrent binge eating episodes with associated negative psychological and social problems, but without the compensatory behaviors common to bulimia nervosa, OSFED, o ...

avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a type of eating disorder in which people eat only within an extremely narrow repertoire of foods. It is a serious mental health condition that causes the individual to restrict food intake by ...

, and

other specified feeding or eating disorder Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) is a subclinical DSM-5 category that, along with unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED), replaces the category formerly called eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) in the DSM-IV- ...

, and providing information to the public about these conditions.

History

The charity was founded in 1989 from the amalgamation of the existing UK charities, Anorexic Aid and Anorexic Family Aid. The Society for the Advancement of Research into Anorexia merged with the Eating Disorders Association in 1992. Beat became the Eating Disorders Association's working title in 2007, and was formally adopted in 2018.

Activities

Support services

As well as campaigning for better services for those affected by eating disorders, the charity provides self-help support through several different projects: # Helplines: The charity runs three national helplines, one for adults, one for young people under 25, and one for students. Telephone, email, and one-to-one webchat services are available. # Online Services: The charity's website includes message boards, an online chat facility, online support groups, and a HelpFinder directory. # Peer support: The charity runs Echo, a telephone-based peer support for carers, in some parts of the country.

Campaigning

Beat actively campaigns for better services and understanding of eating disorders. Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) takes place annually.

Ambassadors

The Ambassador scheme allows people who have recovered from an eating disorder to take an active part in Beat's work. They represent Beat in the media or at conferences and events, speaking about their experiences to help reduce the stigma and educate others. Beat received funding in 2013 from Young Start to grow the scheme in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

Training and Continuing Professional Development

Beat runs conferences and training, providing knowledge, education and training to carers, healthcare and education professionals, and other organisations in both the private and public sector. The Eating Disorder International Conference (EDIC), aimed at academics, researchers, clinicians and others working in the field of eating disorders runs every two years.

Awards

The charity was a runner up in the healthcare and medical research section of the

UK Charity Awards The UK Charity Awards are annual awards for outstanding achievements within the UK not-for-profit sector. Categories reflect the management of charities and not-for-profits, and awards are made to individuals, departments and whole organizations. P ...

2007. It also received the national Wellbeing Award of the Children and Young People's Services Awards 2007 for its work in developing a forum for young people, and in particular for the charity's active involvement of young people in informing its work, via the forum. The charity was awarded

NHS England NHS England, officially the NHS Commissioning Board, is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care. It oversees the budget, planning, delivery and day-to-day operation of the commissioning side of the ...

's now defunct Information Standard quality mark in 2011 to ensure the healthcare information it provides is of high quality and reliable. It received the 2011 Nominet Internet Award, Empowering Young People & Citizens, Exciting Newcomer award for My Personal Best. In 2015 Beat's Young Ambassador team in Scotland won the volunteers' award at the National Scottish Health Awards, in recognition of their contribution to improving health and wellbeing in NHS Scotland.

Funding

Beat is funded from a variety of sources – from community fundraising, donations, trusts and grant applications to professional services and government grants. Often, the funding received is to focus on particular support services. The Youthline is supported by BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief.

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beat - Eating Disorders Association Eating disorder organizations Health in Norfolk Organisations based in Norwich Organizations established in 1989 Health charities in the United Kingdom 1989 establishments in the United Kingdom