EATING disorders can affect anyone, any time – but help is available when you want it.
That’s the message South Scotland MSP Emma Harper has been using her Scottish Parliament platform to spread in Holyrood,
She recently held a debate to mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and spoke of the progress being made to de-stigmatise the illnesses and highlighted the services on offer locally to support those living with a condition.
Emma flagged up a range of conditions such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, as well as binge eating, or deliberately missing life-saving insulin doses to help lose weight.
It’s estimated around one in 100 women and one in 200 men live with anorexia nervosa alone, while up four per cent of people live with binge eating.
In total around 1.25 million people in the UK are reckoned to be living with an eating disorder today.
Emma said: “As a registered nurse, I’m sadly all too aware of the appalling toll eating disorders have on sufferers and their families and friends alike.
“While we have come a long way in de-stigmatising and demythologising these illnesses, there is still some way to go, and raising these topics openly and in our nation’s parliament is one way for those living with eating disorders to hear and see that there is help and support out there to begin their recovery and fightback.
“I was also pleased to highlight the improvements in training and information that are being rolled out to social and medical professionals who are working at the coalface with people who may not yet be diagnosed but who may be able to get early intervention before things get worse.
“We should be concerned that the number of children and young people presenting with a possible eating disorder has increased significantly in recent years, and while I think there isn’t a single answer to why this is happening, there’s no doubt the way body image is portrayed on social media plays a big part.”
She added: “Dumfries and Galloway has some outstanding services providing support for those living with an eating disorder, but there is always more we can be doing to help not just directly affected but their loved ones around them too.
“It can be hard to reach out in the first instance, but everyone should know advice and support is available through BEAT on their helpline by calling 0808 801 0432.
“Services like BEAT aren’t there to judge – they’re here to help, so please reach out if you’re ready to get the help and advice you need.”
