THOUSANDS of children struggling with body image concerns and mental health difficulties are turning to Childline for help and support about eating disorders.

In 2017/18, the NSPCC’s Childline service carried out 5,934 counselling sessions about eating disorders and eating problems – up 22 per cent since 2016/17.

Childline is there for these young people, but at the moment we can only answer three out of four young people who turn to us for help.

So we can meet the demand, the NSPCC’s Are You There? campaign is calling on government to invest some of the £300 million it has committed for children’s mental health services towards early support services such as Childline.

Children and young people in need of advice or support about eating disorders or eating problems can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice, 24 hours a day on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk

Wendy Robinson, Childline Service Manager, London Base