South Yorkshire Eating Disorder Association has backed calls for better GP training this Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week and the theme is to increase GP’s knowledge and training on eating disorders, as currently the average GP gets two hours of training on eating disorders throughout all of their studies.
In a recent study by the charity BEAT they found out that 60 per cent of eating disorder patients felt that they received poor care from their GP in regards to their disorder and a further 58 per cent felt that their GP did not understand eating disorders.
To help combat this local charity South Yorkshire Eating Disorder Association (SYEDA) organises GP and healthcare professionals training for Eating Disorders to make sure that they are able to give the best care possible to their patients. They also offer awareness sessions in educational settings to better help participants identify people with eating disorders.
SYEDA prevention and early intervention manager, Maria Flude said: “There is a tangible thirst for knowledge around Eating Disorders awareness, not least since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic during which we have seen a rapid rise in frequency and severity of Eating Disorders across the board.”
Since 2020 the prevention and early intervention team have trained over 1000 people around South Yorkshire and they are continually developing this service.
SYEDA is a group that works to provide support to those affected by eating disorders be it through one to one therapy sessions or practical support.
Their support comes without any judgement and they emphasise that you do not have to look a certain way to get help from them or access to their services. They help all kinds of people whose relationship with food or how they look dominates their lives.
They focus on helping prevent eating disorders by supporting those who are at risk of gaining one by helping make them more resilient and comfortable in themselves.
SYEDA also tries to help people who have just recently started suffering from an eating disorder to help stop it from becoming more severe.
Originally established in 1996 with a small group they now have a large number of dedicated volunteers who work to help deliver the charities services.
