THEl Early recognition and prompt intervention increases the chance of recovery i food disorders and, in some cases, it is lifesaving. To seek help without wasting time, theHigher Institute of Health (Iss) makes one available to families online map of dedicated treatment centers (on platformadisturbialimentari.iss.it ), with the type of treatments offered, the methods of access and the numbers to contact.
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Eating disorders: 91 public centers where you can ask for help
For now they have been surveyed 91 public facilitiesincluding outpatient, residential (for physical, mental and social rehabilitation) and day hospital services (for assisted meals and psychoeducational activities): 48 in the North (of which 16 in Emilia Romagna), 14 in the Center and 29 in the South and Islands . In the coming months, the structures of the accredited private sector will also be mapped.
Pandemic has doubled the requests for help
Distress calls doubled during the pandemic. 65 per cent of the centers surveyed (that is, which responded to the ISS questionnaire) as of December 31, 2021, had a total of more than eight thousand users, of which three thousand for more than 5 years. In 2020 alone, the first visits made were almost 4,700.
Eating disorders: 90% are women
Women are 90 percent of patients and 59 percent are between 13 and 25 years of age (6 percent under 12). Anorexia nervosa accounts for 42.3 percent of diagnoses, bulimia nervosa 18.2 and binge eating (i.e. periodic compulsive binges) 14.6 percent. The latest budget law established a 25 million euro fund for 2022-2023 aimed at strengthening the care and rehabilitation networks, still lacking at the regional level.
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