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Contacting the press office
For press and media enquiries, comments or background information
call the beat press office direct on 0300 123 7061
or e-mail: media@b-eat.co.uk
Out of hours contact details will be on the press office direct line.
Official comments
beat is happy to help with background information and briefings on all aspects of eating disorders.
beat can help to locate professionals working in the field of eating disorders who may be able to help with information about treatment and other aspects of eating disorders therapy.
The anti-stigma body, Shift, has a detailed guide for journalists on reporting mental health issues.
Case Studies
We know how important it is to work with the media and deliver the truth about eating disorders and we are always happy to contribute by helping journalists and broadcasters where we can. beat has an out of hours contact number (available from the press office direct line) and will endeavour to co-operate wherever possible.
beat has a eating disorder case study database of over 200 people willing to raise awareness by sharing their stories in public
International Media Phone Number + 44 1603 753 316
beat have an ISDN line installed for radio interviews.
The number is 01603 230 656
More information about our ISDN line for ‘down the line’ interviews.
Reports
You can access copies of reports issued by beat (& Eating Disorders Association) here
You can also access a recent report by New Philanthropy Capital on mental health of children and young people here
Press Releases
Recent press releases from beat are here
If you would like to receive press releases from beat by e-mail, just send a blank e-mail with 'Press Release' in the subject line to media@b-eat.co.uk and you will go on our database. You will have the option to unsbscribe at any time.
Statistics
How many people in the UK have an eating disorder?
There is a serious lack of robust data about exactly how many people in the UK have an eating disorder. We know that people can be reluctant to seek treatment, and so not be included in the statistics that do exist. The Department of Health provides information on the hospital episode statistics but this only covers national health services and shows how many individuals received inpatient treatment. This only captures a very small percentage of cases, since as much as 50% of treatment is provided by private clinics, and only the most severely ill people require inpatient care.
Health statistics usually refer to two types of data - Incidence: the number of new cases in a given period; and Prevalence: the total number of cases existing at any one time. Since eating disorders can endure for several years, prevalence figures are significantly higher than incidence figures. Incidence figures can determine whether more people are developing the condition.
We are also aware that many people, including those who are seriously ill, may not be in contact with treatment services, and so do not appear in any statistics.
Determining the true scale of this condition is a campaigning point for beat, and we continue to request that the Department of Health conducts reliable incidence and prevalence studies.
The most reliable data available is that quoted in the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on eating disorders (pub.2004). It gives the following figures for prevalence in cases per thousand of population.
| Anorexia Cases/1000 | Bulimia Cases/1000 | All eating disorders cases/1000 |
| Females | 4 | 20 | 24 |
| Males | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3 |
| All cases | 4.5 | 22.5 | 27 |
This equates to an overall figure of 1.6million people in the UK affected by an eating disorder
Females: 1.4 million
Males: 180,000 (11%)
Photographs of people with an eating disorder
We appreciate that journalists and broadcasters need to illustrate their stories, but know the effect that these images can have on people who are suffering from an eating disorder. In some cases to see their own image can make their life very much worse and possibly hinder their recovery. We encourage the media to think of other ways to illustrate these stories rather than seeing people at their very lowest weight.
