‘Deadly illness is thriving’: Demand for leading eating disorder charity triples in pandemic with record high

Demand for the UK’s leading eating disorder charity has tripled during the pandemic with the service experiencing record levels of people coming forward to seek help.

Data shared exclusively with The Independent shows overall helpline demand soared by 173 per cent in around a year - rising from 4,277 contacts in February 2020 to 11,686 contacts in January this year.

Beat, the charity which runs the helpline, said they have seen a consistent rise since the Covid crisis hit as they warned lockdown measures could be driving the rise.

Overall helpline demand includes calls, online chats, emails, messages via social media and online support group attendance - with the service used by people suffering from eating disorders, anxious loved ones looking after them, and healthcare workers, teachers or social workers who have concerns they have encountered someone with an eating disorder.

Jess Griffiths, the charity’s clinical lead, said: “A lot of families are contacting us saying my child has deteriorated in six weeks. It is really terrifying for them. 

“We are constantly surprised how many people have got in touch with us. Eating disorders tend to come from feeling out of control, and in a pandemic, we are feeling more out of control than ever. 

“Then there’s also more focus on food and fitness than before. One of the only things we can do on a daily basis is our daily exercise so it has become our focus. Also family are home together more so I think people are more aware of what others are eating.”

Dr Griffiths, a psychotherapist who has specialised in eating disorders for 16 years, said she has worked with young people who may miss their breakfast and lunch, but then eat dinner with their family, but this is more obvious in the wake of lockdown.

“Then there is the issue of panic buying and issues with scarcity,” she added. “People with eating disorders have rigid ideas on what they think is good or bad food and tend to stick with safe foods. So imagine if this safe food is rice and this has gone in the supermarket.” 

Dr Griffiths, who previously had an eating disorder herself but is now fully recovered, said food shortages can also be difficult for people with eating disorders as they may have a meal plan from their dietician or therapist to stick to.

Meanwhile, lockdown measures can make it highly tricky for those with eating disorders due to “people being more on edge due to being cooped up indoors”, she added. On the contrary, she said people who live alone may be struggling as they are isolated and have not had enough support.

“People with eating disorders are very sensitive people,” Dr Griffiths added. “If you come in with a hard approach, this can make it worse. But as a parent, there is an innate desire to feed your child. So then to see your child rejecting food is very hard.”

She explained while it can be difficult for loved ones to relate to those with eating disorders and they can instead be left feeling frustrated, it is important to recognise there is a range of “underlying issues which inform” eating disorders.

It is estimated that 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder — such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa — with the majority of those being female. The figure also includes those binge eat, which can lead to being overweight.

Dr Agnes Ayton, chair of the Eating Disorders faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, told The Independent: “This deadly illness is thriving because many people have lost their support networks alongside access to community services as a result of Covid-19. 

“Infection control and social distancing in inpatient units has also led to a reduced number of beds so desperately ill patients are struggling to get help. The government and the NHS must take immediate action to tackle this crisis.” 

She called for all medical professionals to have better training in noticing eating disorders early and for services to be “properly resourced” so patients who manage to get a referral do not have to endure such a lengthy wait for treatment.

NHS England must provide waiting time targets for adults or the “cruel postcode lottery” for treatment will persist, Dr Ayton said.

The fresh data comes after a report shared exclusively with The Independent found eight in 10 women suffering from eating disorders are fearful for their own safety during the second national lockdown which took place in November.

Altum Health, a London-based practice of psychologists, said there had been a surge in people with eating disorders ringing for support after the Covid-19 lockdown.