Paediatricians sound alarm at huge surge in child eating disorders

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “In our tier 4 under 13s mental health inpatient unit we have seen a three- to fourfold increase in children referred to our service with eating disorders, and they are just the tip of the iceberg.” Dr Nancy Bostock, a consultant in Cambridge, said in a statement provided by the college. NHS England data showed there were 21,794 admissions for eating disorders among all age groups in 2019-20, up 13 per cent from the 19,244 in 2018-19 and up 32 per cent from 16,547 in 2017-18. Recommended New early treatment to be rolled out for eating disorders Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at the eating disorder charity Beat, said a rise in hospital admissions year on year does not necessarily mean more people were suffering overall. Claire Murdoch, NHS England's mental health director, said: “The pandemic has turned lives upside down and hit young people particularly hard, so while a record high number of young people are in fact getting care for eating disorders, it is sadly a likely fact of the pandemic's impact that more young people will need to seek out support for mental ill health, which is why the NHS is expanding care every year and continues to offer face-to-face appointments and inpatient care when needed while providing the option of phone and video consultations and online support where appropriate.” She added: “Young people who are struggling with an eating disorder also stand to benefit significantly from recently announced rapid access to specialist NHS treatment across England, which will provide access to early intervention, treatment and support.” Additional reporting by Press Association