Families being forced to quit jobs and live off credit cards in order to support loved ones, report reveals
One in five patients with potentially life-threatening eating disorders are forced to pay for private care as part of their treatment, with families leaving their jobs and living off credit cards to support loved ones, a report reveals.
The huge financial impact of conditions such as anorexia and bulimia is laid bare in a study showing in England alone the cost of eating disorders was £8bn in 2020, rising to £9.4bn across the UK. This includes a £4.8bn loss of productivity as people cannot work, healthcare costs of £1.7bn and carers costs of £1.1bn.
