The NHS's most senior psychiatrist has issued a stark warning that social media is fuelling a rise in eating disorders among children, who are relentlessly exposed to unrealistic body images online.
Social Media's 'Bombardment' and a Surge in Cases
Dr Adrian James, the national medical director for mental health and neurodiversity at NHS England, stated that doctors are treating increasing numbers of young people influenced by harmful online content. He directly linked the 'significant pressures' on young people to being 'bombarded' by social media with images that do not portray realistic bodies.
This warning coincides with a major overhaul of NHS eating disorder services. Demand has skyrocketed, with the number of children and young people receiving treatment rising by a staggering 39 per cent since the pandemic. Figures show an increase from 8,034 cases in 2019/20 to 11,174 in 2024/25.
NHS Abandons 'Outdated' BMI as a Barrier to Care
In a significant policy shift, the NHS has instructed staff to stop relying on Body Mass Index (BMI) when diagnosing eating disorders in young patients. Health officials have declared the calculation, based on height and weight, to be 'outdated'.
New national guidelines state that 'single measures such as body mass index (BMI) centiles should not be a barrier' to a child accessing support, being admitted to hospital, or being discharged. This move addresses long-standing criticism that a narrow focus on BMI has prevented both adults and children from receiving vital help.
Instead, clinicians are now directed to give greater weight to behavioural changes and family dynamics when assessing a patient's needs.
New Training and a 'Postcode Lottery' of Care
To combat the crisis, a new NHS training programme developed with the eating disorder charity Beat and the Royal College of Psychiatrists will be rolled out. It aims to help teachers, GPs, and school nurses spot the early signs of conditions like anorexia and bulimia, ensuring no child is 'left to suffer in silence'.
Dr James emphasised the goal is to help these frontline professionals 'spot the signs and refer children for specialist help faster'. While every local area in England now has a specialist child eating disorder service—a vast improvement from a decade ago—concerns about access remain.
Recent analysis revealed a 'real postcode lottery' for care. Some adults in England wait up to 700 days for community treatment, while children and young people face waits of up to 450 days. Although the national median wait is far shorter (14 days for assessment), the extreme delays highlight ongoing challenges.
Tom Quinn from Beat welcomed the new guidance as 'an encouraging step' towards equitable access. Dr Ashish Kumar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists added that the guidance provides a 'blueprint' for better care, noting these conditions can be 'extremely serious and even life-threatening' if untreated.
The NHS urges anyone concerned about themselves or someone they know to contact their GP for support.
