Doctors told to ignore BMI when identifying eating disorders in children

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New guidance for GPs and nurses says BMI should not be the main factor in deciding which under-eighteens receive support, following criticism that over-reliance on the measure has led to misdiagnosis and delays in care.

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00:00The NHS has told health professionals not to rely solely on body mass index when diagnosing

00:07eating disorders in children. New guidance for GPs and nurses says BMI should not be the main

00:13factor in deciding which under-18s receive support, following criticism that over-reliance

00:19on the measure has led to misdiagnosis and delays in care. The guidance says single measures such

00:25as BMI centiles should not be a barrier to children and young people accessing preventative

00:30care and support. Instead, clinicians are advised to consider other factors. The guidance has

00:36been welcomed by the Eating Disorders Charities and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, both

00:42of which helped develop it.

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