A rise in the number of young females seeking help for eating
disorders sparked a call for action from the Liberal Democrats today.
Figures revealed that, in 2008-09, 1,447 females aged between 10 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 10 and 16, as well as 759 women
aged between 17 and 23 and 450 females in the 24 to 30 age range.
The total is up from 1,279 the previous year and 1,206 in 2006-07,
but is lower than 2005-06 when figures suggested 1,526 young woman
sought help.
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 2008-09 126 women aged between 10 and
30 were discharged from hospital after being diagnosed with an eating
disorder, with a further 90 discharged from psychiatric hospitals.
In the same year, 13 men aged 10 to 30 were discharged from hospital
after being diagnosed with an eating disorder, with four treated in
psychiatric hospitals.
In 2007-08 and 2008-09, a total of 136 children aged between 10 and
16 were treated in either a psychiatric hospital or an acute hospital.
Mr Finnie is now urging the Scottish Government to improve care for
this "vulnerable" group of people.
The Lib Dem MSP said: "Scotland's battle with the bulge is widely
reported, but eating disorders, which can be just as serious, often go
unnoticed.
"Eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia can be just as lethal as
obesity if left untreated.
"That's why these figures that show a rise in the number of young
women approaching their GP or practice nurse for help with eating
disorders are so concerning.
"Even more worrying are the figures that show 136 boys and girls were
hospitalised with eating disorders.
"We know that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK when it
comes to proper support and diagnosis. The Health Secretary must
reflect on these figures and take steps to improve care for these
vulnerable people."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are working with NHS
Boards and their partners to deliver a range of services to support
those with an eating disorder and their families and to help them
recover.
"People with eating disorders will also benefit from work we are
taking forward to improve access to psychological therapies and to
respond better to depression."
And she added: "For young people, we are investing £12.5 million new
funding over three years to improve child and adolescent mental health
services."
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