Eating disorders (EDs) are serious, complex mental illnesses that profoundly affect both health and quality of life. Every 52 minutes, someone dies from an eating disorder — the deadliest of all psychiatric illnesses. Yet with average wait times for treatment in the UK now approaching 3.5 years, we cannot rely on clinical pathways alone. The stark contrast between the severity of eating disorders and the difficulty in obtaining timely support underscores the urgent need for improved treatment provision and greater accessibility.

EDs affect over 4% of the UK population — and that number is rising. Hospital admissions have increased by 122% over the past decade. The cost to the UK economy exceeds £15 billion annually — demand is growing, but funding remains critically short.

Disordered eating and compulsive exercise often come hand in hand - a relationship increasingly fuelled by today’s pervasive diet and fitness culture, and amplified by social media. In these environments, disordered behaviours are promoted and presented as desirable habits. Gyms offer spaces where healthy intentions can become the demands of an unwell mind - and where eating disorders, masked as wellness, slip by unnoticed.

Following a policy proposal I developed on early intervention for eating disorders in fitness spaces, I’ve now entered early conversations with the Public Commissioning team at Beat, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity. Early identification and intervention are the strongest predictors of recovery. There is strong interest in developing a specialised eating disorder training programme for gym staff across the UK, led by Beat’s clinical team to ensure it is evidence-based and expertly informed. The training would educate staff, help them recognise early warning signs, and empower them to signpost gym users to appropriate support. However, there is currently no funding to begin this work.

Beat already offers specialist training for schools and universities - both vital settings for early intervention - but currently, nothing exists for gyms. There’s a clear gap, and currently a missed opportunity.

I’m now initiating a fundraising effort to cover the initial development costs, in preparation to take things forward with Beat this summer. The goal is to support the creation of a fully developed, ready-to-deliver course that can then be shared with leading gym and fitness organisations across the UK. Uptake is much more likely if the training is already built and ready to implement. Exact costs are yet to be confirmed, but I’m hoping to raise as much as possible to support both development and potential implementation. All money raised will be donated to Beat - whether to cover this project or as a general contribution.

Every donation will help make this training possible - and bring us closer to safer, more supportive gym environments across the UK.


Thank you for your support.

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References

Austin, S. B. (2020, November). Social & economic cost of eating disorders in the United States: A case example of strategic science to advance policy action for eating disorders [Conference presentation]. Faculty of Eating Disorders Psychiatry Annual Conference, Royal College of Psychiatrists. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/faculties/eating-disorders/eating-disorders---bryn-austin-conference-presentation---november-2020.pdf

Beat. (2017). Delaying for years, denied for months. https://beat.contentfiles.net/media/documents/delaying-for-years-denied-for-months.pdf

Beat. (n.d.). Statistics for journalists. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/media-centre/eating-disorder-statistics/

Bills, E., Muir, S. R., Stackpole, R., & Egan, S. J. (2025). Perfectionism and compulsive exercise: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis. Eating and Weight Disorders, 30(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-024-01704-1

Godoy-Izquierdo, D., Navarrón, E., López-Mora, C., & González-Hernández, J. (2023). Exercise addiction in the sports context: What is known and what is yet to be known. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21(2), 1057–1074. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00641-9

House of Commons Library. (2024). Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024 [Research briefing]. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2024-0045/CDP-2024-0045.pdf

Le Grange, D., & Loeb, K. L. (2007). Early identification and treatment of eating disorders: Prodrome to syndrome. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 1(1), 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7893.2007.00007.xNHS Digital. (2024, November 6). Hospital admissions for eating disorders [Data file]. NHS England. https://digital.nhs.uk/supplementary-information/2024/hospital-admissions-for-eating-disorders

Marzano-Parisoli, M. M. (2001). The contemporary construction of a perfect body image: Bodybuilding, exercise addiction, and eating disorders. Quest, 53(2), 216–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2001.10491741NHS England. (2025, February 13). NHS mental health dashboard: Quarter 2 2024/25. https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-dashboard/

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. (2015). The costs of eating disorders: Social, health and economic impacts. Beat. https://beat.contentfiles.net/media/documents/The_costs_of_eating_disorders_2015.pdf