Eating disorders - Greater awareness of illness vital

THE plight of children with eating disorders is becoming such a worrying problem for parents that 2,600 calls were made to a helpline last year, a jump of almost 20% on the previous year.

With children as young as nine suffering from the disorder, it is unsurprising that nearly half the callers were concerned relatives, parents and friends.

With so many young people afflicted by disorders ranging from anorexia to bulimia and binge eating, support group Bodywhys cannot keep pace with demands for information.