Skip to main content

Young People: Eating Disorders

Volume 501: debated on Wednesday 2 December 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest estimate is of the proportion of young people with eating disorders for whom bullying has contributed to their illness. (302647)

The DCSF does not have any specific estimate of the extent of eating disorders caused by bullying. However, we do know that bullying can destroy lives and impact negatively on young people’s confidence, self-esteem, mental health, and social and emotional development, so it is important that young people who are suffering speak out.

Because of the effects of bullying, the DCSF has sent a strong message to all that bullying should not be tolerated in and outside of schools. To reinforce this message, we have given schools the powers to regulate the conduct of pupils, to put measures in place to promote good behaviour, respect for others and to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.