All this is not because of a lack of information on healthy eating. In fact this has become such a key issue that the major supermarkets are now involved in schemes labelling foods to inform people about what is in them, all as part of helping people put together a healthy diet. But with the current focus on avoiding obesity we have forgotten the huge and growing sector of the population who struggle with serious eating problems. Government estimates state that without action we will see 12 million obese people by the year 2010. However recent figures suggest that right now there are already over 11 million people in this country struggling with ‘psychological problems or issues over food[1]’ – and that this group is growing rapidly. In fact many of those who are obese also have an underlying eating disorder. These issues do not only affect teenage girls. Rates of eating distress and body concerns amongst men and boys are increasing. Meanwhile it is becoming less and less unusual to see eating disorders developing in both younger children, and in women in their 30’s and 40’s. Eating disorders are not minor ailments. They are not a cultural trend that can be ignored and left to take its course. They are serious psychological disorders that can have catastrophic medical consequences. Eating disorders kill more under 18s than any other psychiatric condition and still more lives are lost to suicide related to an eating disorder or body image problem. Every one of these is a tragedy that could have been prevented.
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