NHS England advises clinicians not to rely on BMI alone for under-18s' eating disorders

NHS England has told GPs and nurses that a child's body mass index should not be the key factor when deciding which under-18s receive help for an eating disorder. The new guidance says 'single measures such as BMI centiles should not be a barrier to children and young people accessing early and/or preventative care and support.' It advises that other factors, such as changes in behaviour by the young person and concerns raised by their family, should help guide decision-making.

The guidance was welcomed by Beat, an eating disorders charity, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, both of which helped draw it up. The article notes medical experts have already cast doubt on using BMI to diagnose obesity. Beat called the guidance 'an encouraging step in the right direction' and said it should be implemented at once and not 'left in limbo'.

Eating disorders campaigner Hope Virgo voiced alarm, saying removing BMI completely 'may be a dangerous step' and could 'dismiss the fact that in some cases BMI will show a person whose body is in a life-threatening state of survival' and fail to 'take into account the impact of malnutrition on the brain'.

Virgo added she was concerned the NHS were doing it to give them 'an “out” in treating people' and warned clinicians might not be monitored effectively. The article says the prevalence of eating disorders was rising before the pandemic and has increased more sharply since, contributing to long delays for some patients.

Key Topics

Health, Nhs England, Eating Disorders, Bmi, Young People, Beat