Almost 1,500 young ladies sought treatment for eating disorders last year, figures have revealed - a rise of nearly 200 on the prior year.
Issues with bulimia and anorexia caused 1,447 young women to consult their nurse practitioner or general physician, and 222 of these young women were under the age of 18.
In 2005-06 there were 1,526 young women in this category, and this number dropped to 1,279 the following year, but last year, once again, saw an increase.
It was a question raised by Ross Finnie, parliamentary Liberal Democrat health spokesman, that prompted Public Health Minister Shona Robison to release these findings.
In 2008-09, males aged 10 to 30 were discharged from hospital after being diagnosed with an eating disorder, with four treated in psychiatric hospitals.
In light of these findings, Mr. Finnie implored the Scottish Government to address this high risk category of individuals, by enhancing the care available to them. He said: "Scotland's battle with the bulge is widely reported, but eating disorders, which can be just as serious, often go unnoticed.
Mr. Finne added, "When bulimia and anorexia are undiagnosed and neglected, the results may be equally as deadly as those caused by obesity." That's why these figures that show a rise in the number of young women approaching their GP or practice nurse for help with eating disorders are so concerning.
"We know that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK when it comes to proper support and diagnosis. These young women are desperate for better care in this area, and therefore, it is the responsibility of the Health Secretary, to consider these alarming findings, and take action"
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are working with NHS boards and their partners to deliver a range of services to support those with an eating disorder and their families and to help them recover.
Along with our commitment to this support and service, we are advancing care in the area of the psychological elements of eating disorders, which will result in enhanced response to depression accompanying these conditions."
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