Surge in eating disorders

NEW figures have revealed a rise in the number of young females seeking help for eating disorders.

In 2008-9, 1,447 females aged between ten and 30 turned to either their GP or a practice nurse for help with problems such as anorexia or bulimia.

That included 222 girls aged between ten and 16, as well as 759 women aged between 17 and 23 and 450 females in the 24-30 age range. The total is up from 1,279 the previous year and 1,206 in 2006-7.

The figures were revealed by public health minister Shona Robison in answer to a parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie.

Other figures disclosed that in 2008-9 126 women aged between ten and 30 were discharged from hospital after being diagnosed with an eating disorder, while 13 men aged ten to 30 were discharged from hospital after being diagnosed with an eating disorder.