British department store Debenham's is receiving praise from eating disorder groups in the wake of its announced intent to start using size 16 mannequins.

"Debenhams, which stocks women's clothing up to a British size 26 in its stores, says 42 percent of its sales are garments in sizes 14 and 16," UPI reported. "Susan Ringwood, who heads the charity Beat, which campaigns against eating disorders, applauds Debenham's announcement.

Debenham's size-16 mannequins will be used in window displays promoting clothing by designers like Ben de Lisi, a favorite of actress Kate Winslet.

Many experts have criticized the fashion industry for promoting unachievable (and unhealthy) body images in advertising, claiming that such actions can lead to poor self-esteem, unhealthy body image, and the development of eating disorders among customers -- especially girls and young women.

Labels: self-esteem, fashion, great britain, body image

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

Peter Rae, whose 18-year-old daughter died earlier this year of anorexia-related health complications, has expressed anger over the care his daughter received in days leading up to her death. Alice was admitted to a hospital Dec. 29, 2008, but was discharged just 20 hours later.

The matter was addressed in a Dec. 3 article on the Hampshire Chronicle website:

[Christine Rae] was admitted to Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital on December 29 last year. She was sent to hospital after telling a doctor she had spent the Christmas period sleeping all but four hours of each day.

"We had very grave concerns [about her discharge] with very good basis," said Mr Rae, a company director. "We had been told on admission she would be in for a number of days.

"We were very surprised she was discharged after 20 hours with no instructions other than to resume the treatment programme that was not working."

Winchester Coroner's Court heard that Miss Rae had become so weak she was unable to walk more than 50 yards and doctors at RHCH had discussed fitting her with a heart pacemaker. ...

Isabel Lewzey, who treated Miss Rae at an eating disorders clinic in Eastleigh, said her client had been angry about the treatment she was receiving.

"She felt that we were not taking her condition seriously enough and that she needed more than outpatient individual therapy."

Labels: anorexia, great britain, daughters, death

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

A woman who spent her life savings treating her anorexia has been awarded reimbursement from National Health Services in Wales. The patient, named only as Miss S, spent about $30,000 in private treatment, after NHS refused to pay.

"The report revealed that Miss S, who comes from South Wales, became ill while staying with a friend in Plymouth. She received outpatient and inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa in the Westcountry." (Source: WalesOnline)

From there, as her condition worsened, she was referred to a unit that specialized in eating disorders. Health Commission Wales, which was supposed to fund the treatment, didn't.

The representatives who wrote the report referred to HCW's actions as "maladministration" and determined that HCW's failure to fund treatment had caused Miss S "injustice and hardship."

Labels: anorexia, treatment, great britain, finances

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments