Men and women struggling with and truly suffering from eating disorders are being turned away from treatment across the country because they are "not thin enough".

One in three mental health trusts are using weight measurements to decide whether or not to accept patients with eating disorders despite individual's crying out for help with their devastating condition. In some areas, a person's BMI must be as low as 14 or less to be accepted for treatment, at which point studies and personal experiences have proven that therapy is too taxing to engage in whilst physical health is so deteriorated.
A healthy BMI is in the range of 18 to 25, but even this stands to further impose an incorrect and outdated measure of health. As a note of information: BMI measures are designed to be used on individuals over the age of 20. Any younger than this and weight should be measured using percentiles, an indicator where measurements are compared with others in this age and height range.
Eating disorders are known to be notoriously difficult to treat, but research performed by Beat, the UK's leading eating disorder charity, have found that people are 50% less likely to relapse if treatment is sought, and started immediately.
Anorexia is the mental illness with the highest prevalence of death, with 1 in 4 patients losing their life to this consuming condition. The illness itself causes physical and psychological complications, often with long term consequences.
I would like to stress here as thousands of other's try to every day, often in a silent scream, that Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and EDNOS are all mental illnesses: not physical ones. Although weight deterioration is a vitally important factor to recognise, someone actively struggling should never be turned away, especially not based on the very factor that they are battling with daily.

Solution
Access to specialist eating disorder services need to be made easier. Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state that on its own, BMI is an unreliable measure of an eating disorder.
Doctors need further training to identify the psychological symptoms of eating disorders and refer to services regardless of weight.
Referrals must be prompt, meeting guidelines and ensuring early intervention.

Personal story
My name is Denica Whinn. I am almost recovered from Anorexia Nervosa, a condition that I have had since I was 12 years old and am now nearing 20. I have spent a total of 1 year of my life in a specialist eating disorder inpatient unit and 6 years in community services.
During my initial appointment, after those around me had begged me to seek treatment for almost 2 years, I was told that I "did not look thin enough to have Anorexia" and that I should "take tablets to regulate my blood sugars as I was feeling dizzy after missing lunch". This dismissive approach led my weight and mental health to deteriorate rapidly, leading to self-harm, suicidal behaviour and severe physical health complications, leading to me being hospitalised for 6 months.
I am at University now, studying Applied Psychology, volunteering and campaigning with Beat, as well as constantly raising awareness of an illness so devastating, I almost lost my life whilst still in my childhood. I want to ensure that this illness is given more attention and that those struggling are given the respect that they deserve.