Pandemic sees a worrying spike in eating disorders in youngsters
More than 140 children received treatment for eating disorders at a health trust last year, figures reveal.
Mental health charities say the national rise in demand for help with eating disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic has been “deeply worrying”.
And NHS England data shows 100 young people aged under 19 started treatment for routine cases of eating disorders at the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in 2020. A further 43 under-19s began treatment for urgent cases.
The figures cover treatment for conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders.
Scott Humphries, director of children, young people and families services at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “When a young person is referred to eating disorder services their needs will be assessed and appropriate treatment put in place to help them towards recovery.
“Over the past 12 months we have been working hard to ensure that people continue to receive support for eating disorders through the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In January 2021, we launched a new service for 16 to 25 year olds giving rapid access to specialised treatment.
“The First Episode Rapid Early Intervention (FREED) service gives special attention to challenges we know young people face during these years of their life, and in the early stages of an eating disorder.
Between October and December 700 urgent cases were seen across England – more than for any other three-month period since records began in 2016 to 2017. It was well above the 377 treated over the same period a year earlier. Routine cases also increased to a record 2,554.
Eating disorder charity Beat said the rise was concerning as demand for its helpline services had more than doubled over the course of the pandemic.
Director of external affairs Tom Quinn said: “It is extremely important that children and young people are able to find effective treatment quickly as the sooner someone is treated the more likely they are to make a full and fast recovery.”
An NHS spokeswoman added: “The pandemic turned lives upside down and hit young people hard, but community eating disorder services continue to step up to treat increasing numbers.”
