Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Special report

11 February 2013, 05:00

Beat is encouraging people to reach out to others, whether they’re a partner, work colleague, best friend, brother or sister to express their concerns.

Eating disorders affect 1.6million people in the UK.  1 in 39 people – that’s 2.6% of the population who have an eating disorder.

Around 2,000 people at a top premier league club home game will have an eating disorder...

That's 11 passengers on a jumbo jet

In Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2013 (11^th-17^th February) Beat – the leading UK eating disorder campaigning charity and the largest of its kind in the world is flagging up that the illnesses are far more common than most people think.  ‘Everybody Knows Somebody’ is its campaign theme.

25-year-old Cara is from Ipswich and started suffering with Anorexia whilst she was studying for her GCSEs.

She's now fully recovered, and Heart's Angie Clague went to meet her:

Cara's Story

Beat Chief Executive Susan Ringwood: “This serious mental illness is affecting someone you know right now - in your street, school, workplace, even in your own home. If you are the least bit worried about a friend, partner or family member take the initiative, tell them you are concerned, and encourage them to go to their doctor.  The sooner someone gets the help they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery.”

Beat provides a range of support including helplines for adults and young people, a UK wide network of self help and support groups and online support including information, message boards and live chat at www.b-eat.co.uk. The charity also provides expert training to health and social care professionals and supports research into eating disorders.  Helpline:  0845 634 1414