Women were told that they were not thin enough for a treatment of eating disorders.

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Patients who fear eating disorders are told by general practitioners that they are not "thin enough for treatment," according to a woman to whom help has been denied.

The woman's MP, Wera Hobhouse, highlighted her story during an emotional debate at Westminster Hall.

In some cases, general practitioners refused the help of patients as they did not fall into the category "body mass index (BMI)" of anorexic, "said Ms. Hobhouse.

"Judging a diet disorder according to BMI is not enough," said the MLA for Bath.

Doctors who rely on BMI guidelines to assess the weight and severity of an eating disorder are "failing patients," she added, and actually worsen the suffering of patients.

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On average, it currently takes 58 weeks to seek help for a eating disorder and another 27 weeks before they can receive treatment from their GP, said MPs.

Adult patients must currently have a BMI less than 17.5 to be diagnosed with anorexia.

However, according to the National Institute of Health and Care (NICE), people with anorexia may have a BMI above or below average – and BMI is only One of 14 signs that may indicate a eating disorder.

In the UK, where more than a million people suffer from a eating disorder, including 90% of women, MPs debated how the government could help fight against the stigma surrounding this disease.

Eating disorders education is currently minimal, with medical students receiving an average of two hours in total, while 20% of medical schools do not include eating disorders in their curriculum. according to a report by Dr. Agnes Ayton, Vice President. President of the School of Diet Disorders at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Lack of education and understanding around eating disorders meant that patients often took a form of antidepressant as a way to fight their depressive thoughts, they told MPs.

It is feared that this lack of knowledge about eating disorders explains why those who suffer from it have the highest mortality rate among those who suffer from a mental disorder.

"We are far too quick to offer patients a prescription rather than prescribing the help they really need," said Conservative MP Kirstene Hair.

Part of the debate revealed that if professionals try to understand the psychological side of eating disorders, we could do earlier to prevent it.

As it stands, one in every 100 young people between the ages of 10 and 20 suffers from anorexia each year, but many UK clinics do not care for people under the age of 17.

Former Lib Lib leader and MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron, who took part in the debate, said: "The government allows Cumbria, in the public health sector, to spend only 75 p.

"We should invest in the presence of a mental health officer in every school to prevent people from arriving at this point."

In 2015, the government has allocated an additional £ 30 million a year to tackle eating disorders over the next five years.

According to the Commissioning Guide for Access and Waiting Times for Eating Disorders in Children and Youth, published by the government, easier access to services and more support needed to be part of the package.

But MEPs say that this money does not reach front-line services and must be isolated to prevent it from being used to fill other funding deficits of the NHS in England.