Eating disorders widespread in B.C., doctor says

Agrowing number of young people in B.C. are suffering from dangerous eating disorders, aspecialist warns,and a better treatment facility is needed.

Dr. Laird Birmingham, head of the Eating Disorders Program at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver, said Tuesday that societyunderestimates the seriousness ofeating disorders, which are genetic and psychiatric ailments thatcan kill.

"The mortality rate in anorexia nervosa is over 10 times higher than any other psychiatric disorder,"Birmingham said.

While anorexia rates remain steady in B.C., rates of bulimia — the binging and purging of food — have gone up astronomically,he said.

The Looking Glass Foundation, set up by parents of teens who have suffered from the disorders, has raised half a million dollars and hired a medical director fora planned treatment centre. A location is yet to be decided.

Deborah Grimm, vice-president of the foundation, said she remembershow anorexia took possession of her 14-year-old daughter Kelsey.

"My beautiful, vital daughter with the most kissable cheeks and the big dimples started to disappear on me," she said.

Birmingham estimated that Kelsey was one of 65,000 people in B.C. — mostly young women and girls — who have eating disorders.

He said there's a major gap in care for this growing epidemic, and that the province had sent six young people to the United States for lengthy and expensive treatment.

"If it happened in other diseases, other than in an emergency situation, I'm sure the media would be right on it," he said.

Grimm's daughter pulled through after receiving private treatment in the United States.

The foundation is looking for government and private funding to help them raise another $2.5 million so young people can receive treatment in Canada.