One in five young women show signs of eating disorder

One in five young women aged 16 to 24 show signs of an eating disorder, according to an NHS survey.

Some 20.3% of young women screened positively for an eating disorder, compared to 9.2% of all women, the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity in England study published showed.

The study also showed that the percentage of young women (aged 16–24) who self harm is rising fast: the figures rose by 80% between 2000 to 2007. Over the same period the numbers of young men who self-harmed rose by 50%, the research revealed. Only around half of self harm cases received medical or psychological help.

Responding to the study, Lucie Russell, YoungMinds campaigns and participation director said: "These statistics reflect a worrying trend that there is a generation of young people growing up unhappy and depressed, leading often to problems such as self harm and eating disorders.

"We have to start intervening early. One in three children in every classroom has a diagnosable mental health disorder and that’s just the ones that have been classified.

"There is still a huge stigma around mental health which means children and young people are not getting the support they need.

"Disruptive, difficult, withdrawn and disturbed kids need to be supported and not just ignored and told off.

"Investing in services and support for young people not only reduces misery and loneliness but saves millions in future costs to the criminal justice system, NHS, education and social care."

(Source: Mental Health Foundation UK: February 2009)