Almost one teenager a week in Sussex is being referred for treatment for an eating disorder.

Figures show children as young as 11 and 12 are needing specialist care and support to get their anorexia or bulimia under control.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust cared for 50 under 18-year-olds between April 2011 and March this year.

Eight of these needed to be admitted to a specialist inpatient unit while others were given the help they needed in their own homes.

Three of these were aged between 11 and 14 and the rest between 15 and 17. The actual number of young people with problems is probably higher as they are based on the most serious cases that are referred to the trust.

Consultant nurse specialist Sue Kelly said there were several reasons why people being admitted for treatment were younger than they were a decade ago.

She said: “Children are more worried about their appearance from a much younger age than they used to.

“They are also exposed to various images in the media and on TV which can reinforce negative messages.

“On some popular TV shows, it’s the slim, nice looking people who are successful while the overweight seem to have more problems.”

* For the full story read The Argus this weekend.