This article provides an overview of eating disorders and the vital role of general practice nurses (GPNs) and primary care teams in identifying, assessing and referring on. It also looks at the role of GPNs and the primary care team in providing supportive care and physical risk management. People with eating disorders are relatively heavy users of primary care services, however it is more likely that they will initially present with another mental health issue. The GPN team can help to support specialists, patients and patients’ families with the management of eating disorders through the development of a compassionate, therapeutic relationship that understands and empathises with the patient and yet maintains firm boundaries, is vigilant about risk and is firmly pro-recovery. GPN teams can be ‘critical friends’ to someone who they may know well, gently encouraging healthy behaviours and being alert to potential warning signs in patients and/or concerns raised by parents/significant others.