AN OXFORD teenager is calling on the Government to protect young people from “dangerous” websites which promote eating disorders.

Alice Taylor, who lives in East Oxford, battled with anorexia last year dropping down to just over six stone.

The 18-year-old has now set up a petition, signed by more than 500 people so far, urging the Department for Education to do more to raise awareness in schools of so-called “thinspiration” websites.

She said it should look at introducing teaching as part of the national curriculum and in the online petition, also addressed to the NSPCC, said: “If children were encouraged to steer clear of blogs that normalise what is a very serious and damaging mental illness, I would hope that the number of cases per year of anorexia would decrease.

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“Just as children are encouraged to avoid anyone who might be wanting to harm them online, we should be encouraging them to avoid groups that could lead to extreme health complications, and potentially death.

“I hope you take this petition into consideration, and introduce appropriate measures to protect young people from a growing culture of glorifying dangerous weight loss.”

Miss Taylor, who lives with her mum Emily, dad Lucien and brother Patrick, 16, in Temple Road, was diagnosed with anorexia last year.

At the time she was studying for A-Levels in drama, English literature, maths and biology at a school outside Oxford, and said she became obsessed with becoming a size zero.

She said she saw websites giving her advice on how to trick friends and family by wearing jumpers to look bigger and eating just before check-ups.

The Grade 7 pianist, who wants to study music at university, said: “They can be blogs or forums. They are really dangerous.”

At her lowest point she weighed about 40kg, or just over six stone, when her target weight is closer to 50kg, or about seven and a half stone.

After a couple of months, Miss Taylor said she agreed with her parents that she would leave school to focus on her recovery. She had regular therapy sessions and is now re-taking her A-Levels.

Alice’s mum, a freelance internet policy researcher at Chatham House think tank, said: “If you have a swimming pool outside your house, you can put locks on the doors and patrol it but ultimately you need to teach your children to swim. I am so proud of Alice for speaking up about something that is so personal, because a lot of people suffer in silence.”

She said as her daughter’s disease worsened, she did not notice her weight loss so much as her increasing unhappiness.

She advised parents worried about their children: “Face up to it; try to help early. If you don’t you are storing up bigger problems later in life.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said he “strongly supported” the petition and would raise the subject with the secretary of state for education.

He said: “Clearly this could save lives if young people can be better equipped to resist the dangers of these sites.”

Oxford eating disorder clinic Cotswold House, based in Banbury Road, takes about 250 referrals each year.

Abingdon GP Prit Buttar, chairman of the British Medical Association Oxfordshire committee, backed Miss Taylor’s campaign.

He said: “She makes an excellent point and I share her deep distrust of these pernicious and unhelpful sites.”

Oxford Spires Academy principal Sue Croft said: “Teenagers are put under enormous pressure, mainly through celebrity culture.”

She said schools were responsible for helping to tackle eating disorders and that was why all county schools have employed an NHS nurse since April 2013.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for children Melinda Tilley also backed the petition but warned: “This is extremely hard to tackle.”

A DfE spokesman said: “Schools have a duty to promote pupils’ wellbeing and help teachers talk about health and body image issues sensitively and effectively.”

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where people keep their body weight as low as possible.
It usually develops at the age of 16 or 17. 
Sufferers restrict the amount they eat, make themselves vomit and exercise excessively. Signs that someone may have anorexia or another eating disorder include:

  • Missing meals, eating very little or avoiding fatty foods
  • Obsessively counting calories
  • Repeatedly weighing themselves or checking their body in the mirror
  • Physical problems, such as feeling lightheaded or dizzy, hair loss or dry skin

If you have concerns about yourself or somebody else go to your GP.

 

 

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