§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help is available to people suffering from anorexia nervosa from the social services and from the health service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice has been given to general practitioners concerning early diagnosis of anorexia nervosa; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleMy Department has not given any advice to general practitioners on early diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. This is a matter of clinical judgment.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the prevalence of anorexia nervosa in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MoyleAnorexia nervosa is most common in schoolgirls and young women. The prevalence is of the order of one per hundred of 16–18 year old girls and studies have indicated that it may be more common in social classes I and II than in the general population.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have died as a result of anorexia nervosa in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of deaths recorded in England and Wales were as follows:
1973 26 1974 26 1975 23 1976 24 1977 21 (provisional)