Recent survey by NHS revealed there has been a sharp increase in the number of young girls admitted to hospital due to anorexia. Figures revealed that the number of admissions among girls aged 16 and under jumped to 80%, from 256 in 1996/97 to 462 in 2006/07 in last ten years.

Health minister Anne Milton said: "We are failing to get across to young people today the dangers they face when they abuse food."

Figures revealed that the 141girls aged 15 were admitted to hospitals in England in 2006/07 which is double of 75 admissions in 1996/97. Similarly there were 108 admissions among 16-year-olds in 2006/07 as compared to 55 admissions in 1996/97.

Among 14-year-olds, there were 93 admissions in 2006/07 as compared to 58 admissions in 1996/97.

Among 13-year-old girls, there was a 38% rise and among 12-year-olds there was a 207% rise, from 13 admissions to 40. For 11-year-olds there were 18 admissions as compared to 11 in 1996/97. There were 10 admissions among 10-year-olds, up from nine in 1996/97. Among 17-year-olds there was an increase from 51 to 74 admissions whereas the number of admissions among 18-year-olds increased from 40 to 61.