Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia & Binge-Eating)
Does food, weight or body shape occupy most of your thoughts — skipping meals, eating in secret, or feeling out of control around food? Eating disorders are serious conditions with unhealthy eating behaviours and intense concern about weight and shape (ICD-11 6B80–6B82):
How common is it?
Over a lifetime, anorexia affects about 1 in 100 people, bulimia 1–2 in 100 and binge-eating disorder 2–3 in 100. Most begin in the teens or early 20s. Anorexia has one of the highest death rates of any mental illness, so early help matters.
Who is at higher risk?
- Teenage girls and young women (boys and men too)
- Perfectionists
- People who diet often
- Those body-shamed or teased about weight
- Heavy social media users
- Dancers, models and athletes
- People with anxiety or depression
Signs & symptoms
- Strong fear of gaining weight; skipping meals or extreme dieting
- Eating large amounts quickly, feeling out of control, then guilt
- Vomiting, laxative use or exercising compulsively
- Eating secretly; avoiding eating with others
- Dizziness, tiredness, missed periods, hair fall, big weight changes
What causes it?
Genes (about 50–60%), perfectionism and low self-esteem, difficulty handling emotions, and cultural pressure about appearance.
How to know if you are struggling — you may relate if…
- I feel guilty after every meal.
- Food feels like the only thing I can control.
- I eat when upset, then hate myself.
How Mind Detox Centre helps
A caring assessment with medical risk screening, CBT for eating disorders (CBT-E) for adults, family-based treatment for teenagers, emotion-regulation skills, and coordination with your doctor and dietitian.
Insomnia & Sleep Problems
Lying awake for hours, watching the clock, dreading tomorrow's tiredness? Chronic insomnia is difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more, with daytime tiredness (ICD-11 7A00).
How common is it?
About 10 in 100 adults have chronic insomnia; around 1 in 3 have some sleep problems.
Who is at higher risk?
- Women
- Older adults
- People with anxiety, depression or pain
- Shift workers
- Heavy late-night phone use
- Caffeine and alcohol users
Signs & symptoms
Taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, waking often or too early, unrefreshing sleep, daytime fatigue, irritability, poor focus.
What causes it?
A racing, over-alert mind, stress, irregular routines, screens, caffeine and alcohol, and mental or physical health conditions.
How to know if you are struggling — you may relate if…
- I'm exhausted all day, but the moment I lie down my mind switches on.
How Mind Detox Centre helps
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) — the first-line treatment worldwide — with sleep scheduling, relaxation training and treatment of any underlying anxiety or depression.
Frequently asked questions
Can men have eating disorders?
Yes. Men and boys are often missed but can have any eating disorder.
Are sleeping pills the best treatment for insomnia?
For long-term insomnia, CBT-I is recommended first because its benefits last after treatment ends.