The annual event commences 21 February 2011, and continues B-eat’s 22 year vision that “eating disorders will be beaten”.

The Suffolk community eating disorders team, part of Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, were awarded the b-eat quality assurance mark in summer 2010.

Gill Burgoyne, service line manager for Suffolk’s community eating disorders team, said: “The Trust has been supporting b-eat as a charity since they were first founded, and we have worked closely with them since our eating disorders service was launched in 2003”.

When awarding the assurance mark to the Suffolk team, b-eat highlighted the excellent personalised service, which includes partnership working and service user involvement, and that promotes sustained recovery.

Gill added: “Suffolk’s service is provided to those aged 18 years and above who suffer from anorexia or bulimia nervosa. It is important to note that eating disorders do not discriminate. We treat both men and women from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.”

A range of treatments is provided by the team including psychiatry, specialist dieticians, psychological therapy, physiotherapy, and specialist nurses in the community and as outpatients at the team offices in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.

Gill also discussed the issue of body confidence and its importance: “Over the past few years television shows such as How to Look Good Naked have been raising awareness of positive body image.


“People are constantly surrounded with unrealistic and unattainable images telling people what they ‘should’ look like. Although images in the media are not a direct cause of eating disorders, these images affect people’s body confidence.


“Improving body confidence and self esteem can act as a protective factor against the development of eating disorders. It is imperative to improve the understanding of eating disorders through public health awareness, informed training and easier access to specialist service.


“Eating Disorders Awareness Week is great opportunity to remind people that to love the body you’re in!”

www.smhp.nhs.uk

B-eat provides helplines for adults and young people, online support and a UK-wide network of self-help groups to help people beat their eating disorder. You can find out more at www.b-eat.co.uk.