Increase in youth eating disorders over lockdown

The number of young people admitted to hospital with eating disorders has risen by almost 50 per cent to 3,200 during the pandemic compared with the previous year, NHS figures show.

Some hospitals are running out of specialist beds, according to the BBC. Tom Quinn, from the eating disorders charity Beat, said: “We have seen a huge increase in demand for our helpline, with many talking about increased anxiety, isolation and lack of support.”

It comes as the waiting list to start treatment is almost three times higher than pre-pandemic levels.