New warning signs of eating disorders can help GPs intervene earlier

People diagnosed with an eating disorder have higher rates of other conditions and certain prescriptions in the years before their diagnosis, a large-scale data study conducted by Swansea University researchers has found. The results, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry by the Royal College of Psychiatrists could help GPs to understand what could be early warning signs of a possible eating disorder. Eating disorders – such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder – affect an estimated 1.6 million people in the UK, though the true figure may be higher as many people do not seek help. They predominantly affect women but also