Children with eating disorders ‘lack support’

Young people with eating disorders lack proper support, according to a new survey.

The Eating Disorders Association (EDA), which today changes its name to ‘beat’, found that the vast majority of children felt they could not talk to their parents or anyone at school about eating problems.

Only one per cent said they would turn to their parents, while 91 per cent said there was nobody at school who could help and a further 83 per cent said they would not go to a GP or nurse.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of beat, said society was to blame for leaving young people with eating disorders feeling they had nowhere to turn.

“In today’s celebrity driven culture, where people are vilified for gaining weight then stigmatised for losing weight, eating disorders are sensationalised and misunderstood,” she said.

“This is having a devastating impact on young people suffering from eating disorders who feel increasingly alienated and isolated and lack confidence to ask people for advice and support.”

The government has admitted that more needs to be done, with health minister Rosie Winterton calling on GPs, parents and young people to work together to beat eating disorders.

“There is a clear need for action to be taken to ensure that young people have the confidence and determination to get advice and support about eating disorders as early as possible,” she said.

Today’s warning comes at the start of eating disorders awareness week, during which beat will aim to raise the profile of a growing problem.

Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are most common among young women between the ages of 15 and 25.