A number of children under 10 have been treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland for eating disorders.

The Department of Health has not published the exact number, but up to 12 children were hospitalised in the three years between 2007 and 2010.

Nearly 80 teenagers have received hospital treatment for conditions such as anorexia in the past five years.

It is understood up to £4m is spent each year on adults and teenagers who travel to England for treatment.

Ann McCann from the Eating Disorders Association said the organisation had dealt with a girl as young as eight, who had been bullied for being a “little bit overweight”.

She said the numbers of children affected are growing – the vast majority are girls, but one in ten are boys.

via >BBC News – Children under 10 in Northern Ireland treated for eating disorders.