Eating disorders are on the rise

There has been a rise in eating disorders and eating problems

Being an adolescent is stressful enough, without having to worry about bullying, weight and dieting.

But dealing with these difficult issues can lead to mental illnesses such as eating disorders. From school to exams and social media, the youth in modern society deal with a lot, as well as peer pressure and bullying. This is proven from a recent study conveying that one per cent of female adolescents have anorexia.

Eating disorders are becoming an increasing worry according to recent findings from Mirror Mirror Eating Disorder support network.

They have found that approximately 70m people suffer from eating disorders worldwide. This is becoming an increasingly worrying issue as the average age of sufferers is getting younger than ever before due to a range of self insecurities and low body image.

It is particularly common in adolescents where peer pressure has been highlighted as one of the leading causes of eating disorders.

Furthermore, eating disorders can end tragically with only sixty percent of sufferers recovering.

Specialists from the NHS suggest that when dealing with friends or family that suffer from eating disorders we should all include and encourage activities to help them build their self esteem and self worth.

With International Eating Disorders Day approaching on June 2 it is important to listen and share a thought for those who suffer.

Elizabeth Landon