Norfolk charity calls on social media giants to "get a grip" of damaging content on their platforms
Beat is raising awareness that anyone can be affected by an eating disorder at anytime, regardless of their age, gender, or background
A charity in Norfolk is calling on the owners of social media companies to "get a grip" of harmful content on their platforms, that's exacerbating serious health problems.
At least one in 50 people in the UK are living with an eating disorder - according to BEAT, based in Norwich.
That equates to 1.25 million people across the country.
The charity is running a campaign to raise awareness that anyone can be affected by an eating disorder at anytime, regardless of their age, gender, or background.
"You're never too old to get help"
Tom Quinn is from the group: "We know that on average, it takes men longer to recognise the illness, seek help for it and get help for it as well, compared to women.
"Anyone can recover from this illness at any age, even if you've had the illness for decades.
"I would really encourage anyone, even if it's 'manageable for you', to get help if it's having a detrimental effect on your life. You're never too old to get help.
"We've just done a survey of over one thousand people who have an eating disorder of some kind, what we found was pretty shocking.
"Fewer than one in five of people are seeking help within the first six months of experiencing symptoms and over a third waited for two years to do something about it."
If you or somebody else needs support:
Beat
Telephone: 0808 801 0677 (England)
Website - beateatingdisorders.org.uk
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
Website - babcp.com
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Website - bacp.co.uk
Hub of Hope
Website - hubofhope.co.uk