Press Association
Thursday 24th May 2012
An MSP whose teenage daughter died after suffering with a severe eating disorder for years, has called on doctors to treat the early stages of the illness as a psychological disease rather than an eating fad.
SNP backbencher Dennis Robertson said it was crucial the medical profession was more aware of the early warning signs so that faster interventions can be made to help suffers.
Mr Robertson's daughter Caroline died last year, aged 19, after suffering with anorexia since the age of 13.
He gave a moving account of his family's personal experience during a members` debate in Holyrood this evening, ahead of the anniversary of Caroline`s death on Saturday.
The debate, aimed at raising awareness, also coincided with the UK-wide campaign Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
Mr Robertson said his daughter fought the illness for five years, at times saying that she did not want to be anorexic.
He said: "But the other times I had an anorexic child. An anorexic child who didn`t engage, who would keep her distance and who would isolate herself in her bedroom."
He spoke of family holidays that were "fraught with anxiety, with pain and torture", and of the consultant`s shock at Caroline`s condition when she was admitted to hospital after reaching a critical stage.
He said: "It is a psychological illness, it is not one which is about an eating fad. It is not one which the person has the choice as to whether or not they can overcome it by sitting down and eating a healthy meal. We have to try as best as we can to get rid of some of the myths surrounding eating disorders, and we have to accept that it is an illness.
"It is an illness that requires early intervention, and to do is you have to be aware of the signs."
