Early identification of eating disorders must lead to faster treatment not just early referral
The BABCP has welcomed new NHS training to help teachers, school nurses and GPs recognise the early signs of eating disorders, but warned identification alone will not improve outcomes and that treatment pathways also need strengthening.
The new digital training aims to improve early recognition in children and young people. However, new NHS data shows demand for eating disorder services has risen 39 percent over the past five years from 8,034 in 2019/20 to 11,174 in 2024/25*.
BABCP said the new training is an important step forward but cautioned that raising awareness without expanding access to timely, evidence-based treatment, such as CBT risks creating longer waits for families already struggling to access support.
Speaking at the start of Eating Disorders Awareness Week Rachel Coupe, chair of BABCP’s Eating Disorders Special Interest Group called for sustained workforce planning to ensure that improved identification leads to timely, evidence-based care: “Earlier recognition can make a real difference to successful recovery. We strongly welcome NHS England’s efforts to help frontline professionals spot the warning signs. But identification is only meaningful if young people can quickly access the right treatment. Without sufficient clinical capacity, we risk creating a surge in referrals without the services needed to respond. Eating disorders are serious but treatable conditions. The earlier effective therapy begins, the better the long-term outcomes.
“Early intervention must mean early treatment, not simply earlier referral.”
Eating disorders such as such as bulimia, anorexia and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – a serious condition which is not driven by body image concerns – can become increasingly entrenched the longer they go untreated.
NICE guidelines recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, among others, for many eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia nervosa, ARFID, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) and binge eating disorder.**
BABCP said strengthening links between schools, primary care and specialist services will be critical to ensuring that awareness translates into recovery.
