10-year-olds have eating disorder

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Children as young as 10 in Northern Ireland are suffering from anorexia and bulimia, according to the Eating Disorders Association.

The statistics were revealed amid concern about the role certain websites are playing in promoting the illnesses.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is to speak to internet providers after the issue was raised by MLA Tom Elliot.

The Eating Disorders Association said anorexia and bulimia were on the increase in Northern Ireland.

Spokesperson Jackie King said: "We are seeing young people coming into the centre with their parents and they are still only at primary school.

"They haven't even started to develop into a young adult and they are not going to because this illness robs them of that.

"They are actually starving themselves before they have even reached puberty.

The sites that we are worried about are the ones that are giving tips on how to be a better anorexic or better bulimic Jackie KingEating Disorders Association

"That's so dangerous because the chances are then they are going to delay their normal development and become very, very ill."

Each health board area in Northern Ireland has a specialist eating disorder team, the more complex cases being dealt with centrally in Belfast.

There are plans to build an eating disorder unit with re-feeding beds and psychiatric facilities.

But many young people still choose to get their information off the internet, and some websites appear to actively promote anorexia as a positive lifestyle choice.

Ms King said there were sites which actually encouraged them to become ill - and they had tried to get certain websites banned.

"The sites that we are worried about are the ones that are giving tips on how to be a better anorexic or better bulimic," she said.

Assembly member Tom Elliot has raised concern over such sites but said the health minister was taking positive action.

"He has given me the assurance that he is going to meet the internet service providers and sit down and talk to them and see if they can have some of these sites removed or at the very least contain the comments that are posted on them," he said.