Why are eating disorder services rejecting patients?

Some services reject patients based on specific BMI thresholds, either too low or too high, and sometimes due to co-existing psychiatric conditions.

How long are the waiting times for eating disorder treatment?

Waiting times can be extremely long, with adults in some areas waiting up to two years and children over a year for specialist treatment.

What does the National Audit of Eating Disorders report say about BMI?

The report found that many services exclude patients based on BMI, despite national guidance advising against using single measures like BMI to determine treatment.

Home / Health / Two-Year Waits for Eating Disorder Help Exposed

Two-Year Waits for Eating Disorder Help Exposed

17 Dec

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Summary

Specialist eating disorder services are rejecting patients based on BMI.
Adults face waits of up to two years for vital specialist treatment.
Eating disorders are an escalating public health issue affecting 7.5% of people.

Two-Year Waits for Eating Disorder Help Exposed

A shocking report has exposed critical failures within eating disorder services across the UK, revealing that some patients are being denied life-saving treatment. Specialist units are reportedly turning away individuals based on their Body Mass Index (BMI), with exclusions for being too thin or too heavy, contradicting current clinical guidance.

Compounding these access issues, adults are facing wait times of up to two years for specialist care in some areas, while children also experience waits exceeding a year. This situation is described as an escalating public health crisis, with an estimated 7.5% of the population now affected by eating disorders.

Campaigners and MPs are calling for urgent reform, emphasizing that clinical need should drive treatment access, not arbitrary criteria or service capacity. The audit highlights a critical need for increased investment and a cultural shift to ensure that individuals receive timely and appropriate care, regardless of their BMI or other health conditions.