Number Of Hospitilisations For Anorexia Jumps By 79%

424 people were admitted to public hospitals in 2021, compared to 237 the previous year. 

The number of people hospitalised with anorexia increased by 79 per cent last year. 

424 people had inpatient admissions in public hospitals in 2021 - up from 237 the previous year. 

The number of admissions in the Ireland East Hospital Group, which includes Mullingar Regional Hospital, increased from 34 to 86 - while the Dublin Midlands Group, which includes Tullamore and Portlaoise Hospitals, increased to 27.

The number of children under 16 hospitalised with the condition also almost doubled. 

Professor of Psychiatry in Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly, says anorexia can have very serious consequences:

Eating disorders, especially anorexia, have the highest death rate of all mental illnesses. 

Professor Kelly says the spike in hospitalisations is probably linked to the Covid pandemic:

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