Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2022

Today we come to a close on eating disorders awareness week, something I'm passionate about raising awareness for and something very close to my heart and something I will continue to talk about after this week.

If you're new here then you can read more about my story HERE and my history with an eating disorder.

I've been posting and raising more awareness this week over on my Instagram which you can find HERE if you like 😊

The theme or topic this year which BEAT are campaigning is about how GP's are given just 2 hours training on eating disorders, if at all; which I'm sure you can agree is truly shocking.

Anorexia specifically has the highest mortality rate of any mental health illness, yet is still poorly understood or taken seriously.

The entire system is underfunded, yet more and more people are being diagnosed daily, with less help.

The issue also lies in the help people do receive when worryingly, GP's have no (or very little) understanding on eating disorders, often sending patients away telling them to 'eat more'.

Another concern is the system going off a persons BMI, many with eating disorders may fall into the 'healthy' range of a BMI, so aren't classed as being at risk and therefore not eligible for treatment or therapy.

Most of the time, you're only taken seriously when your BMI reaches a truly shocking number for anyone to take action and give you the help you need, by which time, it can often be too late.

However, I must point out, you're only given physical treatment when reaching a low BMI and are now classed as being too unwell for therapy. Eating disorders are mental illnesses, therapy should be one of the first things offered to the patient.

You're either not sick enough, or too sick. Where do