I Think I Have an Eating Disorder, What Happens if I Speak to My GP
A GP appointment can feel daunting when the thing you are describing is something you have been hiding.
A GP appointment can feel daunting when the thing you are describing is something you have been hiding.
You may worry about being weighed, judged, not looking unwell enough or not knowing the correct words.
Your job is not to diagnose yourself. Your job is to describe what is happening as accurately as you can so that the GP can assess your physical and mental health and decide what further assessment or referral is appropriate.
The GP needs the pattern, not a perfect explanation
Expect questions about eating, thoughts about weight or shape, changes over time, binge eating or compensatory behaviours, physical symptoms and mental wellbeing.
NICE says assessment should consider a range of signs rather than relying on one measure.
Be as open as you can, including about behaviours that feel embarrassing. Information you leave out can make the clinical picture harder to understand.
Physical health may need checking
Eating disorders can affect the body, so assessment may include physical observations or investigations depending on your circumstances.
NICE recommends assessing fluid and electrolyte balance where compensatory behaviours are believed to be present, and considering whether an ECG is needed based on individual risk factors.
The exact assessment is a clinical decision. This guide cannot tell you which tests you personally need.
Weight is information, not the whole diagnosis
You may be particularly anxious about weight being discussed.
NICE is clear that BMI alone should not determine whether treatment is offered. The wider pattern of eating-disorder symptoms and physical and psychological health matters.
If being weighed is frightening, tell the GP. Do not let fear of that part of the appointment prevent you from describing the problem.
What happens if an eating disorder is suspected
NICE recommends immediate referral to an age-appropriate community eating-disorder service for further assessment or treatment when an eating disorder is suspected following initial assessment.
The specialist service can look in greater depth at the eating problem, physical health, mental health and the treatment that may be appropriate.
Different eating disorders have different evidence-based treatments, which is another reason not to choose your own treatment from an online checklist.
Prepare a short note if you are worried you will minimise it
Before the appointment, write down what has changed and what you are doing that concerns you.
Include physical symptoms and how much of your day is occupied by food, weight or body thoughts.
People sometimes automatically say “it’s not that bad” once they are sitting in front of a doctor. A written note can help you communicate what you intended to say.
If you still feel worried after the appointment
It is reasonable to ask what the clinician thinks may be happening, whether further assessment is needed and what the next step is.
If symptoms change or your physical or mental health worsens, seek further professional medical advice rather than assuming the first conversation permanently settled the issue.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important informationThis guide provides general information only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical or eating-disorder advice. Eating disorders can affect physical as well as mental health, and appearance or body weight alone does not show how unwell somebody may be. If you are worried about your eating, food-related behaviours, body image or physical health, speak to your GP or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional. If an eating disorder is suspected, specialist assessment should be arranged as early as possible.