Anorexia Government Funding

Anorexia government funding has been given. The British Government’s Department of Health has awarded £2 million to fund research into anorexia nervosa.

The funding will be split between the Institute of Psychiatry, the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Norwich-based national eating disorder charity Beat.

The money will be used to research better techniques for identifying and treating anorexia, and how treatments can be matched to different types of sufferers. It is believed the number of people in the UK with an eating disorder exceeds 1 million. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate.

In her announcement of the Government grant, Health minister Rosie Winterton described the current trend to be ‘size zero’ as “deeply worrying”, and highlighted the important role society has to play in promoting a positive body image among young people.

Research suggests the sooner anorexia, or any eating disorder is acknowledged, diagnosed and treated, the greater the chances of recovery and the more positive the outcome for the individual.

Beat Chief Executive Susan Ringwood has expressed her delight at the charity’s involvement in the study, and the contribution it will make in identifying the early signs of eating disorders and supporting affected families.

Beat believes that eating disorders will be beaten through changing the way people think and talk about eating disorders, and that sufferers of eating disorders should be aware that help is available and recovery is possible.