Approximately three in four adults diagnosed with an eating disorder by their general practitioner (GP) are not referred to specialist treatment services, according to a recent study. The research, conducted by King’s College London and involving more than 35,400 adults across England and Northern Ireland, highlights significant gaps in the pathway to care for people with eating disorders.

The study found that individuals with eating disorders other than anorexia nervosa, particularly those who are not underweight, often face obstacles in receiving specialist support. One of the key issues identified is that healthcare providers may focus heavily on a patient’s body weight when assessing for eating disorders, potentially overlooking other symptoms that indicate a serious condition.

Eating disorders affect an estimated 3.5 million people in the UK, equivalent to roughly one in 20 adults. Despite this prevalence, many patients report difficulties in obtaining appropriate care. Umairah Malik, research manager at the eating disorder charity Beat, emphasized that many people who seek help encounter rejection after visiting their GP. Malik noted that “all too often, this is because their weight has been reviewed in isolation without considering other accompanying symptoms.” She also pointed out the persistence of a misconception that eating disorders predominantly affect individuals who are underweight, which may contribute to missed diagnoses.

The findings underscore a need for improved training and awareness among frontline healthcare professionals to ensure that eating disorders are recognized and addressed regardless of a patient’s weight or specific diagnosis. Barriers to referral and treatment for conditions such as bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder were particularly noted, as these conditions may not present with the classic weight loss signs associated with anorexia.

Overall, the study calls for a more nuanced approach to diagnosing and managing eating disorders in primary care settings, aiming to close the gap between initial diagnosis and specialist intervention to improve outcomes for those affected.