Teenagers are ending up in Welsh hospitals after developing eating disorders. New figures have showed that the number of teenagers taken to hospital with eating disorders has reached a 15-year high. In 2013-14, a total of 75 people aged between 13 and 19 years old were admitted to hospitals for care.

The number being treated was up 8% on the previous year and represented an average increase in admissions of 36% over a decade.

Although 75 of the 78 hospital admissions last year were females, the figures suggested there is a concern that problem for men is worse.

According to Welsh government, new ‘community intensive’ treatment teams would help tackle the problem. Campaign group, Cwtched is seeking a specialist eating disorder unit that will be established in Wales.

Cwtched's Sian Pierce said, “As far as provision is concerned, I think you would find that it's in pockets, [dependant on] wherever you are living. A post code lottery, if you like”.

According to former anorexia patient, Keira Marlow, from Brecon, Powys, particularly teenagers can be at risk, especially girls who make up over 90% of the cases referred to hospital. She added that vulnerability increases due to the pressures of handling school, with growing up issues.

She revealed that she was admitted to a general psychiatric hospital after her anorexia diagnosis at 17. She mentioned that she was the youngest person there and nobody else had an eating disorder.

The Welsh government invested in improving treatment provision, with community treatment for those over 18 receiving £1m a year. An extra £250,000 a year has also been made available to improve treatment for children and young people since 2013.

The extra funding has allowed recruitment the recruitment of specialist staff, improved training for existing staff, created extra outpatient clinics and the increased the availability of high care beds in Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.