Childhood eating disorders have increased by 50% in less than a decade, latest data has demonstrated.
In the past school year, more than 10,000 children in England were waiting to be treated for an eating disorder, shocking new figures have revealed.
In the 2016/2017 school year, a total of 5,240 children were on the waiting list, with some of those waiting for longer than a year.
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Campaigners are now calling for the Government to step in and reduce spiralling childhood eating disorder rates.
Prior studies have suggested that watching TikTok videos for as little as 10 minutes can impact the way a woman sees her own body.
Approximately 12% of kids with an eating disorder are now waiting more than three months for treatment, new data from the House of Commons Library has shown.
However, three years ago, the number of children with an eating disorder who waited more than three months for an appointment was just 1%.
According to NHS guidance, treatment for children should take no longer than four weeks to commence.
This new data has revealed that one patient at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust was on the waiting list for 378 days.
Separate studies have discovered that girls are four times more at risk of being affected by an eating disorder compared to boys.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP and Chair of the Eating Disorders All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: “Too many young people suffering from an eating disorder only get help when their eating disorder is so severe they need to be hospitalised.
“From there, recovery can take years. Early intervention should be our absolute focus in tackling this misery.”
She added: “Not just for preventing this unbearable suffering in the first place but also freeing up resources in the NHS by keeping people out of hospital and giving them stable lives in communities where they can thrive.
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“That’s why we want to make sure that every child has someone they can turn to for help with their mental health, from introducing a dedicated mental health professional in every school to establishing walk-in mental health hubs in every community.
“Through early intervention we can make sure children get the support they deserve before it is too late.”
Suzanne Baker, of the Faculty of Eating Disorders at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “These figures sadly reflect what we have been hearing on a day-to-day basis for quite some time. Families are crying out for support when access to treatment is so hugely problematic.
“Eating disorders are treatable illnesses, with early intervention [and] evidence-based treatment being key for good outcomes.
“However, these figures show the shocking reality, one which increases the risk of chronic illness over a lengthy period of time.”
She added: “It is indescribable to understand the devastation to the whole family unit that being left with little to no medical support for such a sick child brings.”
