It is important to remember that people with any eating disorder (ED) may struggle to approach healthcare professionals about their problems. EDs affect people of all ages and backgrounds, though the risk is highest in young men and women between 13 and 17 years of age. Around 1 in 4 patients with an ED are male. Any intervention must be tailored to the person’s age and level of development. The individual’s home situation, education, employment and wider social environment (including the Internet and social media) are all important factors and should be discussed sensitively. Healthcare professionals should be alert throughout the assessment to signs of abuse in all its forms.
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