In this week's episode, we speak with eating disorder advocate, Nicky Smith, about report released by The All-Party Parliamentary Group, “The Right To Health: People with eating disorders failed”.

The report shares the experiences of those impacted by eating disorders and the inaccessible care for those who need it.

As part of the report, we are calling on the Government to:

🪧Develop a National Strategy for Eating Disorders

🪧Additional Funding for Eating Disorder Services This funding should address the demand for both adult and children’s services

🪧Confidential Inquiry into All Eating Disorder Deaths

🪧Increased Research Funding for Eating Disorders: The aim is to enhance treatment outcomes and ultimately discover a cure for eating disorders

🪧 Non-Executive Director Oversight for both adult and children Eating Disorder Services. This oversight and accountability should be implemented in all NHS Trusts and Health Boards in the UK

Nicky is a member of FEAST and works closely with other family members and carers to advocate for current and emerging eating disorder issues in the UK. Nicky’s daughter has had anorexia for 12 years, so unfortunately Nicky has developed extensive experience from adolescent and adult eating disorder services including inpatient, community, out-of-area placements, sectioning under the Mental Health Act, nasogastric feeding, SEDU, acute mental health and general hospital admissions, hence her passion for support with the End Eating Disorders Campaign.

This week, we discuss:

• Nicky's personal experience of supporting her daughter with an eating disorder.
• The APPG Report on Eating Disorders.
• Recommendations for change in eating disorder services.
• The complexity of recovery and treatment of eating disorders.
• The importance of long-term support and hope.

To read the full report, follow this link.

If you would like to get involved, head over to the End Eating Disorders Website Please visit our website to find out more or search #dumpthescales on social media.

You can also find out more about the APPG and its members on the End Eating Disorders Website.

Additionally, we have drafted an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, asking them to consider our recommendations and take immediate action to end eating disorders. You can keep the pressure up by emailing your MP with our template letter, tweeting your support or sharing our graphics on social media or making a donation to further our campaigning work in this area.

We will also be marching for the End Eating Disorders Campaign on Saturday 7th June 2025, so please come along to show your support!

Find out more by following the campaign on...

Bluesky - @dumpthescales.bsky.social

Twitter/X - DumpTheScales

Instagram - @dump_the_scales

LinkedIn - Dump The Scales

Facebook - Dump the Scales