Eating Disorders Growing Problem in the United Kingdom

According to The Priory Group, between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the United Kingdom are suffering from an eating disorder and approximately 25% affected are male. 10% of people affected by an eating disorder suffer from anorexia and 40% affected suffer from bulimia nervosa.

In an effort to battle against eating disorders of various forms, attempts are being made to help specialists diagnose the issue more effectively and in a most timely manner. With more money and more attention being devoted to the cause, professionals are hoping that they can make a dent in this growing problem.

"I think they are very challenging to work with and sometimes it hasn't been clear what treatment works. One of the things we're hoping that the Eating Disorders Community Service can do is increase awareness with GPs and help them to develop a better understanding of the disorder and also give them training on how to work with people within their surgeries”, said Nicola Spiller, a clinical psychologist.

At this point, authorities are rushing to patch up a previously neglected problem. Eating disorders have become prevalent all over the world; however, the numbers in the United Kingdom are staggering.

Sources: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Beat, and Anorexia and Bulimia Care
Photo: Pixabay

More Articles

There is currently no approved drug for anorexia nervosa, a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder. Research showed that low doses of a...

In the past, eating disorders were primarily considered to be behavior. This overly-simplistic misunderstanding of the issue only created more...

Sudden light-headedness can be a frightening experience for anyone, particularly if you are unsure of the cause. For many, experiencing occasional...

Maintaining a balanced diet not only keeps our body functioning at its best, it also keeps our skin, hair, and nails looking bright and healthy....

Researchers are closer to finding the genetic cause for binge eating and might be getting closer to an effective treatment. “Based upon our...

More Articles

More Articles

There is currently no approved drug for anorexia nervosa, a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder. Research showed that low doses of a...

In the past, eating disorders were primarily considered to be behavior. This overly-simplistic misunderstanding of the issue only created more...

Sudden light-headedness can be a frightening experience for anyone, particularly if you are unsure of the cause. For many, experiencing occasional...

Maintaining a balanced diet not only keeps our body functioning at its best, it also keeps our skin, hair, and nails looking bright and healthy....

Researchers are closer to finding the genetic cause for binge eating and might be getting closer to an effective treatment. “Based upon our...

When a person begins recovery treatment for anorexia nervosa, they may need to initiate a process known as refeeding. The refeeding process is a...

When a baby is in utero, they develop fine white hairs all over their body. These are known as lanugo hairs and they protect the baby’s skin from...

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics found more than 90 percent of patients with eating disorders not specifically defined (EDNOS) in...

Eating disorders might be hard to talk about, or even to admit to yourself. If you know, or if you even suspect, you have an eating disorder,...

If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, you may feel overwhelmed. There are a few things you should know upfront.

First and...

Eating disorders don't discriminate. They don't care if you're rich or poor, they don't care about your color or gender, and they don't care if...

In the U.S., an estimated one in 200 people develop an eating disorder. That is a startling number, but another number is even more alarming: one...

A lot of what people know about eating disorders comes from "common knowledge." Unfortunately, common knowledge isn't always correct, or it may...

Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight. In many cases, people suffering from this...

Most people find holidays stressful, but the thought of facing holidays can be overwhelming for a person with an eating disorder. If a special day...