anti-depressantsThe number of 13-19 year olds admitted to hospital due to eating disorders almost doubled between 2010 and 2014, according to new NHS figures.

Charity YoungMinds has described the increase in the hospitalisation of young people for eating disorders as "deeply concerning".

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In the year 2010/11 there were just under 1,000 admissions of 13-19 year-olds but by 2013/14 it had soared to more than 1,800. The vast majority are female and the most common age for admissions is 15.

Experts have warned that although the figures are relatively low, the rate of increase was mirrored by a larger number of cases that did not go to hospital.

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, added: "YoungMinds has warned for many years that cuts to early intervention services would inevitably see more children needing stays in hospital as local community services become more and more stretched. The reasons behind why more children and young people have eating disorders are complex but the situation is made much worse by the onslaught of pressure that they face to have the ‘perfect body’.

"We must do more to help and support children at an early stage when they first start to struggle. Too often the system only responds and provides the care that children and young people need when they reach crisis point. This is unacceptable and has to change. We must also help young people to develop positive self-image and to combat the culture of body perfection."

To read more NHS statistics visit www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/