A fifth of women living in England have an eating disorder, including 28 per cent of those aged 16 to 24, the findings of a national NHS health survey revealed.
The annual Health Survey for England asked more than 8,200 adults for the first time about eating and thought patterns which may indicate an eating disorder.
The study found that 16 per cent of adults in 2019 have a possible eating disorder, including four per cent who said their feelings about food interfered with their ability to work, meet personal responsibilities or enjoy a social life.
Among women, those under 35 were most likely to have a possible eating disorder, with the chance dropping off in line with age and lowest among the over 75s.
One in six adults in England has a possible eating disorder, including 28% of women aged 16 to 24, experts behind a large health study have warned.
The annual Health Survey for England asked more than 8,200 adults for the first time about eating and thought patterns which may indicate an eating disorder.
The study found that 16% of adults in 2019 (19% of women and 13% of men) screened positive for a possible disorder, including 4% who said their feelings about food interfered with their ability to work, meet personal responsibilities or enjoy a social life.
Among women, those under 35 were most likely to have a possible eating disorder (28% of those aged 16-24 and 27% of those aged 25-34).
Wealthier adults are far more likely to drink to excess than those on lower incomes, according to a new report, which also found that teenagers are shunning alcohol.
The Health Survey for England, which interviewed more than 8,200 adults in 2019, found that increasing household income was linked to drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week.
Among men, the highest proportion of those drinking at this level were in highest income households (44 per cent) compared with 22 per cent in the lowest income bracket.
Meanwhile, 25 per cent of women in the highest income homes drank alcohol at higher levels compared to 9 per cent in the lowest income homes.
A quarter of young women could have an eating disorder warns study
Several factors made people more likely to say they had disordered eating
The annual Health Survey for England asked more than 8,200 adults for the first time about eating and thought patterns
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One in six adults in England has suspected eating disorder which may be fuelled by obesity
The annual Health Survey has found 16 per cent of adults aged 16 and over are in danger of suffering from a possible eating disorder
15 December 2020 • 3:00pm
One in six adults in England is likely to have an eating disorder which may be fueled by growing levels of obesity, a new study has found.
The annual Health Survey for England has found 16% of adults aged 16 and is suffering from a possible eating disorder, with women under 35 most likely to do so.
Women were also more likely than men to show signs of an eating disorder and the proportion doing so increases among the low paid and those living in deprived areas.