Early onset eating disorders in children
Press Release
The information we released in March 2007:
- This is the first ever national prospective study of eating disorders in children under the age of 13 years
- Data is being collected through members of the Royal Colleges of Paediatrics and Child Health and Psychiatry
- 206 cases were reported over 13 months. (Incidence 3.5/100,000)
- 37% were diagnosed as having anorexia (Incidence of 1.36/100,000)
- 18% of cases were seen in boys, showing that this is not just a problem for girls
- The youngest case was a child of 6.25 years – eating disorder (some not all of the features were of anorexia)
- The youngest case of a child with anorexia nervosa – 8 years
- 50% of children had to be admitted to hospital
- 45% of children exercised excessively to keep their weight down
- Thankfully nearly 60% of children have improved
Important points to include in the article:
- Eating disorders consist of several groups - anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, eating disorder with no specification and others
- There have been no studies in the UK looking at this group before – therefore there is no evidence of a rise in eating disorders in this group as this is the first study
- Comparable studies overseas – Canada – look at http://www.cspscanada.org/
- There are very few facilities aimed at children, rather than adolescents, addressing this problem, so the BPSU wanted to assess the need .
- This is the first child psychiatric condition the BPSU has ever undertaken. The BPSU is funded by the Dept of Health. This specific study was funded by the Hyman Wingate Foundation
Quote – Dr Dasha Nicolls, Principle Investigator and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital:
“It is important to understand that an eating disorder is when someone is worried about their weight or shape. It is possible to have severe eating difficulties where weight or shape is not driving this.”
Ms Claire Brunert, Press Office
Tel: 0207 307 5600
E-mail: Claire.brunert@rcpch.ac.uk
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