Don’t rely on BMI alone when diagnosing eating disorders in children, says NHS England

Guidance for GPs and nurses says other factors should be taken into account, such as changes in behaviour

A child’s body mass index should not be the key factor when deciding which under-18s get help for an eating disorder, the NHS has told health professionals.

The new guidance from NHS England to GPs and nurses follows criticism that over-reliance on BMI has led to children who have an illness such as anorexia or bulimia being misdiagnosed and missing out on care.