Better resources need to be in place
Charities are reaching out for more help to be provided for people with eating disorders, as resources are lacking for people suffering with anorexia and bulimia, with latest figures showing that eating disorders are on the rise.
Anorexia and Bulimia Care is a charity that operates helplines for people with eating disorders. Concerns have been raised as they say more resources are needed to be put into supporting teenagers and adults seeking help.
New official figures show that eating disorders have the highest death rates of all mental disorders. 4,610 new cases are diagnosed each year in girls aged between 15 and 19 with boys, as young as ten at risk.
Jane Smith, Director of Anorexia and Bulimia Care said: “The latest official statistics back up what we are experiencing every day on our telephone helplines. More and more people are calling with an eating disorder.”
She added: “It is putting increasing pressure on us and we need to raise funds to enable us to meet the growing demands as we receive no government funding and rely on individual donations and fundraising events.”
Anorexia and bulimia are well known eating disorders, but this year binge eating disorder has been recognised as an illness too. However, more research is now needed into the psychological issue of binge-eating, which to date has not received understanding and is a hidden and growing problem.
Jane said: “ABC has supported sufferers and their families for over 24 years and is inundated with requests for help via its helplines. The findings are important evidence from which to improve current services and poor provision across the UK.”
Although the Institute of Child Health, University College London, say that more research is needed to assess whether the increase in eating disorders is due to greater GP awareness and diagnosis, but the charity Anorexia and Bulimia Care say that the thousands of calls they receive each year indicate this is not the case.
Jane says how callers repeatedly tell them about poor treatment and understanding at primary care level. “I suspect the increase in disordered eating and complex food issues is the reality. We need improvements in care and new ways of tackling this rising problem.”
She added: “I would urge GPs to recognise the complexity of eating disorders and support sufferers and their families during the wait for treatment. These disorders claim lives so we need to tackle the root causes and find solutions, therefore, ABC not only continues to campaign for all those affected but also is working with the all-party parliamentary group addressing these issues. "
Tagged in Health