Eating Disorders are serious mental health conditions that can have devastating effects on an individual's physical and emotional well-being. They are characterised by significant disturbances in eating behaviour, such as restrictive eating, binge eating, purging, and are often accompanied by a preoccupation with body weight and shape.

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, but they most commonly develop during adolescence or young adulthood. Mean age of onset for anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED) is between 15 and 19 years, whilst binge eating disorder (BED) typically occurs slightly later, between 23 and 24 years.

Early intervention is crucial for the successful treatment of eating disorders, as the longer the disorder goes untreated, the more difficult it can be to fully recover.

In eating disorders there is growing bio-behavioural evidence that the illness changes over time, with maladaptive eating and weight control behaviours becoming gradually more automatic and entrenched.

In addition, there is also growing evidence that suggests eating disorders are associated with structural brain changes. Given the typical age of eating disorder onset is during a period when the prefrontal brain areas that are important in self-regulation are still developing; this has potential to interfere with normal brain development.

Many clinical studies suggest that response to treatment is greatest in the early stages of the illness (i.e., within the first 3 years from eating disorder onset) and diminishes the longer the disorder persists.

As such, a lack of, or delay, in access to effective treatment during the early stages of an eating disorder may negatively impact the chance of recovery and facilitate chronicity. So, the first 3 years of illness provides a critical window for full recovery.

Early Intervention also reduces the risk of medical complications such as heart problems, digestive issues, and bone loss.

In severe cases, hospitalisation may be necessary for individuals with eating disorders. Early intervention with the right treatment can help prevent the need for hospitalisation by addressing the disorder before it reaches a crisis point.

The earlier an individual seeks treatment for an eating disorder, the greater the chances of recovery. Treatment can help individuals address the underlying emotional issues that may be contributing to the disorder, learn new coping skills, develop a healthy relationship with food and their body and reduce the emotional impact of the disorder on their lives.

Arguments for early intervention are compelling, given the lasting impact of symptoms such as starvation, on brain, body, and behaviour.

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. With early intervention and the right treatment, recovery is possible.