October is Women’s Health month with the Electrical Industries Charity. It is so important to keep track of our health and understand the intricacies of both our physical and mental health. Although our sector is 85% male almost 30% of calls to the Electrical Industries Charity are from females within our industry. Recently, Danielle, an electrical apprentice, was put in touch with the charity by her family who reached out when they became concerned by her obsessive behaviours.

Danielle wanted to change her appearance. She had been over-weight as a teenager and had unfortunately experienced bullying within school. After turning 17 Danielle joined a local gym to lose some weight and tone up. The gym became Danielle’s escape, a sanctuary away from teasing and a positive outlet to work on herself and improve both her physical and mental well-being. She began to go to the gym 3-4 times a week, the recommended amount for an adult, but once she began to see results, she became obsessed, going to the gym twice-a-day.

Danielle would feel incredibly guilty or depressed if she skipped the gym and would try to find the time to exercise, no matter the expense. She continued to work out despite injury and when her injury worsened, she felt increasingly distressed about not being able to use the gym.

With the rising use of gyms, influence of social media and the ongoing perpetuation of ‘the perfect body’ exercise addiction is becoming more commonplace in our workforce. Exercise addiction is associated with feelings of guilt when not exercising, ignoring pain and injury, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction.

Not only did Danielle become addicted to exercise she developed an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. Danielle used a calorie tracking app and became fixated on always eating below her recommended calorie intake. Danielle distanced herself from her family and friends, skipping social occasions if they involved food or beverage. As she became more fixated on her body image Danielle began to purge after meals and even take laxatives to aid weight loss. It was clear Danielle was now battling with an eating disorder, exercise addiction and body dysmorphia. 21% of those with an exercise addiction also live with an eating disorder.

Realising Danielle’s obsessive behaviours her family reached out to the Electrical Industries Charity. As an electrical apprentice Danielle and her family are eligible for support and can even receive free mental health awareness training through the charity’s partnership with industry leaders, Aico.

Danielle was assigned her own welfare caseworker, that is a member of the charity welfare team who is Danielle’s primary point of contact for emotional and practical support. Danielle was then referred for Dialetical Behaviour Therapy, a therapy which has a proven success rate in treating eating disorders. The charity sourced and funded Danielle’s therapy for twelve months. Over a third of all the cases the charity help involve mental health and well-being, in 2019 alone the charity stepped in to support 5,500 industry colleagues who were at crisis point.

Since partaking in therapy Danielle has developed a much healthier relationship with food and exercise and is feeling much happier in herself. Her mental and physical well-being is far improved, and she can eat and exercise safely.

The Electrical Industries Charity are here to support you whatever stage in your career you are at. The charity are dedicated to supporting apprentices and are passionate about championing positive mental and physical health. As an apprentice you can receive free mental health awareness training through the charity’s partnership with Aico. 
If you are struggling with an eating disorder or know someone who may be then please contact the welfare team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0800 652 1618.