Eating Disorders Awareness Week


This week is eating disorders awareness week, which hopes to educate people about the realities of eating disorders. Beat is one of the eating disorder charities focusing on this year’s annual campaign. According to their website, this year they are “campaigning for all UK medical schools to introduce proper training on eating disorders.”

Why Are They Doing This Campaign?

An eating disorder is something off most people’s radar and how many people it affects. Here are some eating disorder facts Beat provide on their website;

  • 1 in 50 people in the UK suffer from the eating disorder
  • Recovery is possible, but we rely on our GPs to spot early warning signs that may have nothing to do with a person’s weight or appearance.
  • Less than two hours in a GPs medical degree is spent on training for the disorder
  • A fifth of UK medical schools don’t provide any training on eating disorders at all
  • Around 5% of the population will be affected at some point in lifetime

What You Can Do to Help

  • Sign their open letter to UK Medical Schools, calling on them to provide comprehensive training on eating disorders for all future doctors
  • Donate online or fundraise for the cause or charity
  • Text 'BEAT' followed by your donation amount to 70085.*
  • Spread awareness on social media
  • #Eatingdisorderawarenessweek

Support Groups and Charities in Kent

There are some great support groups and charities who focus on eating disorders. Kent-Teaches Kent Support Services Directory provide 4 groups in Kent.

Eating disorders-Kent and Medway 

Telephone: 0300 300 1980

Email: nem-tr.eds.kentandmedway.referrals@nhs.net

Website:         https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-kent-medway-eating-disorders 

Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Tonbridge

Telephone: 07903 729 106

Email: contact@aeainfo.org

Website:         https://www.addictiveeatersanonymous.org/contact-aea

Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Dover

Telephone: 03301333615

Email: contact@aeainfo.org

Website:        https://www.addictiveeatersanonymous.org/contact-aea

Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Canterbury

Telephone: 07903 729 106

Email: contact@aeainfo.org

Website:         https://www.addictiveeatersanonymous.org/contact-aea

If you are suffering from another disorder or mental illness condition, please visit Kent-Teaches Wellbeing page for resources and help.

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