The truth about midlife eating disorders – and why they're on the rise Various triggers can ignite an unhealthy relationship with food as people grow older, even in those who've never had problems before 18 April 2021 • 6:00am There are around 1.25 million people with eating disorders in the UK, says charity Beat Credit: Peter Dazeley/ The Image Bank RF Prior to the tragic death of Big Brother contestant Nikki Grahame, her friends and family had sought to raise funds for private treatment for the 38-year-old’s battle with anorexia. “Over the past years [we] have tried so desperately to get Nikki all the help possible through the NHS but unfortunately the treatments have failed,” they said. “We have exhausted every avenue possible ... this is now our last hope.”