Understanding The Rise of Eating Disorders in the UK - 2022
There has been much in the press recently about the concerning rise of eating disorders in the UK. The statistics below are just a sample of the very concerning figures we have seen released over the past year.
UK hospital admissions for eating disorders have risen 84% in the last 5 years
The number of children and young people admitted to hospital with eating disorders has increased by 35% in the last year
There was a 128% increase in hospital admissions for boys and young men from 2015/16 to 2020/21
Almost 10,000 children and young people started NHS eating disorder treatment between April and December 2021– an increase of a quarter compared to the same period the previous year and up by almost two thirds since before the pandemic. This figure does not include those young people who entered private treatment, meaning the overall figures, if recorded, would be significantly higher.
These numbers are a stark reminder of how many people are struggling with eating disorders, and it is important that we understand and reflect on what they are telling us.
Is there a sudden recent rise in eating disorders?
Though these numbers are shocking, this isn’t an isolated sudden rise in eating disorders, but something that we have been seeing consistently over the last 50 years (Treasure, Duarte & Schmidt, 2020). If we look back over the last 10 or 20 years, we will repeatedly see alarming rises. For example between 2010 and 2016 NHS figures showed a 70% increase in the number of both men and women with eating disorders admitted to hospital. Eating disorders have been increasing for decades and it looks as though they are likely to continue doing so.
Why are we seeing these more recent rises?
The most notable contributor to more recent rises is likely to be the impact of the COVID pandemic. COVID lockdowns took a huge toll on people’s mental health, and at the same time health services were placed under significant strain, limiting the support available. The World Health Organisation reported that the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide, and 72% of mental health services for adolescents were halted between June and August 2020. So whilst demand for mental health treatment was increasing, essential support services were simultaneously disrupted or halted. What this is likely to have meant is that those people who could have been helped early on had to wait to receive care, often leading to a further deterioration in their symptoms.
It is not solely the pandemic that has contributed to the rise in eating disorders, however this is likely to have played the most significant role in worsening societal mental health and reducing health services over this period.
Are rates of eating disorders specifically rising in men?
As the figures show there has also been a stark rise in the rates of admissions for males with eating disorders. The National Association for Males with Eating Disorders estimates that 25 to 40 percent of people with eating disorders are males. However, stigma can prevent men seeking help, and a lack of understanding about the prevalence and presentation of eating disorders in the male population can mean that eating disorders are not identified or treated early enough. It is possible that males are particularly vulnerable to a lack of early intervention. One of the main reasons for this is likely to be the reduced likelihood of family, friends and medical professionals suspecting an eating disorder as early as they would do in a female with the same symptoms.
Why are we seeing so many medical admissions?
During a recent interview on GB News, our Founder and Director, Dr Bryony Bamford, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, spoke about the importance of receiving specialist ED intervention early so that medical intervention is less likely to be needed. The rising rates of diagnosis and admission underline how important this is. As we have seen, there is an ongoing rise in the number of people requiring treatment for an eating disorder, but no equivalent increase in services. Services were known to be struggling to cope with demand prior to the pandemic, but the impact of the last 2 years has brought things to a breaking point, meaning that many people are now having to wait an unacceptable time to receive any support.
In addition to the under resourcing of specialist services, the very limited amount of eating disorder training that general healthcare professionals currently receive means that eating disorders are often undetected or untreated for years. This delay in health seeking results in people being much more unwell by the time they are assessed, and thus more likely to need inpatient care or medical interventions.
It is vital that we recognise not only the increasing hospitalisation rates, but also the impact that leaving people to become so unwell that a medical admission is required may be having on their overall chances of making a full recovery.
How might things change?
Eating disorders continue to have the highest mortality rates of all mental illnesses. However as eating disorder professionals we strongly believe these deaths are preventable if people receive the right care early enough. It is vital that we explore factors that are likely to reduce both hospital admissions and deaths. In line with BEAT’s recent campaign during Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2022, we need to see improved training for healthcare professionals, we need to see more accurate awareness of the early signs, symptoms and risks of eating disorders, and we need to see more prioritisation of early detection and treatment, before medical treatment becomes necessary.
Recovery from eating disorders is possible, but accessing the right treatment early is key, not only for the sufferer but also for the increasing strain on our health care system.
Eating Disorders are a severe mental illness and shouldn’t be underestimated.
The London Centre for Eating Disorders is committed to offering highly specialist, individualised treatment to people regardless of the severity of their symptoms. If you or a loved one think you might be suffering with an Eating Disorder and aren't sure where to turn, feel free to contact our team for guidance.
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