Bath MP Wera Hobhouse is asking for local students to help her improve how eating disorders are tackled across the country, after a motion she tabled in Parliament received cross-party support.
Wera said: “It’s great my motion has received support from across the house, but we need more MPs to show a commitment to tackling this very important issue. This is why I’m asking students in Bath to write, tweet or meet their home MPs to ask them to support my motion!”
It’s estimated that over 2000 people in Bath suffer from an eating disorder, yet many remain undiagnosed.
Whilst many people with eating disorders will not have taken steps to seek treatment, others have visited GPs, only to be told that they aren’t thin enough to warrant diagnosis.
Hope Virgo, who started the #DumpTheScales campaign said: “There is a disconnect between the NHS England guidelines, that say BMI should not be relied on to diagnose eating disorders, and the experience of people in surgeries across the country.
“I’m glad that Wera is taking action in Parliament, and I encourage students to get involved, make their home MPs listen, and join our fight to improve diagnosis and treatment for eating disorders.”
Wera continued: “This is an incredibly important issue to large numbers of people both in Bath, and across the country. I hope that other politicians will put party differences aside and work together to improve people’s lives who are suffering with eating disorders, and other types of mental distress and illness.”
If you would like to support Wera and Hope in their campaign, visit: www.werahobhouse.co.uk/eating_disorders.