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Teenage anorexia is narcissism - Baroness Joan Bakewell Teenage anorexia sign of narcissism - Baroness Joan Bakewell
(35 minutes later)
The rise of eating disorders such as anorexia among teenagers is a sign of growing "narcissism", broadcaster Baroness Joan Bakewell has said. The rise of eating disorders such as anorexia among teenagers is a sign of "narcissism" in society, broadcaster Baroness Joan Bakewell has said.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Lady Bakewell - who is chairing the Wellcome book prize panel - said she was "alarmed" by the illness. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Baroness Bakewell - who is chairing the Wellcome book prize panel - said she was "alarmed" by the illness.
"No one has anorexia in societies where there is not enough food," she said."No one has anorexia in societies where there is not enough food," she said.
It was "a sign of the overindulgence of our society, over-introspection, narcissism really," she said.
Baroness Bakewell's comments prompted debate on social media.
In response to criticism from one parent on Twitter, she said: "It's not your daughter who's narcissistic: it's the culture."
Baroness Bakewell, 82, also went on to tweet: "If I've stirred a public discussion about anorexia... Good. Let's have more research and information."
Hospital admissions for eating disorders in England have been increasing, figures suggest.Hospital admissions for eating disorders in England have been increasing, figures suggest.
In the 12 months to October 2013 there were 2,560 admissions, which was an 8% rise on the previous year, statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show.In the 12 months to October 2013 there were 2,560 admissions, which was an 8% rise on the previous year, statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show.
'Beautiful and healthy''Beautiful and healthy'
There were nine times as many females than males taken to hospital, and the most common age for female admissions was 15 years old, the figures also suggested.There were nine times as many females than males taken to hospital, and the most common age for female admissions was 15 years old, the figures also suggested.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has previously said that increases in hospital admissions could be down to social pressure made worse by online images.The Royal College of Psychiatrists has previously said that increases in hospital admissions could be down to social pressure made worse by online images.
But Baroness Bakewell, 82, told the newspaper that anorexia was "one example of the way [young] people have become very self-regarding". But Baroness Bakewell told the newspaper that anorexia was "one example of the way [young] people have become very self-regarding".
The Labour peer said: "I am alarmed by anorexia among young people, which arises presumably because they are preoccupied with being beautiful and healthy and thin.The Labour peer said: "I am alarmed by anorexia among young people, which arises presumably because they are preoccupied with being beautiful and healthy and thin.
"No one has anorexia in societies where there is not enough food. They do not have anorexia in the camps in Syria. I think it's possible anorexia could be about narcissism.""No one has anorexia in societies where there is not enough food. They do not have anorexia in the camps in Syria. I think it's possible anorexia could be about narcissism."
'More liberated''More liberated'
She also said that today's teenagers were "more introspective and body-conscious". In the newspaper interview she also said that today's teenagers were "more introspective and body-conscious".
"Everyone does these surveys that show schoolchildren are worried about their bodies, or are not happy."Everyone does these surveys that show schoolchildren are worried about their bodies, or are not happy.
"We had no chance to discuss that when we were young. We just had to survive."We had no chance to discuss that when we were young. We just had to survive.
"If you ask people 'are you really happy?' it gives them a chance to think about things they are not necessarily concentrating on.""If you ask people 'are you really happy?' it gives them a chance to think about things they are not necessarily concentrating on."
But she also said that youngsters today had become "more liberated about their bodies".But she also said that youngsters today had become "more liberated about their bodies".
In the same newspaper James Arkell, a consultant psychiatrist and specialist in eating disorders at the private Nightingale Hospital in London disagreed with Baroness Bakewell's view.In the same newspaper James Arkell, a consultant psychiatrist and specialist in eating disorders at the private Nightingale Hospital in London disagreed with Baroness Bakewell's view.
"Anorexia is really driven by a need for control - not by narcissism," he said."Anorexia is really driven by a need for control - not by narcissism," he said.
However, he added that he agreed with Baroness Bakewell's view that young people did have more choice.However, he added that he agreed with Baroness Bakewell's view that young people did have more choice.
Book prizeBook prize
The NHS describes anorexia as a "serious mental health condition".The NHS describes anorexia as a "serious mental health condition".
Earlier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to ensure teenagers with eating disorders would receive treatment more quickly.Earlier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to ensure teenagers with eating disorders would receive treatment more quickly.
From 2017-18 a new waiting time measure will track the proportion of patients being seen within a month of referral, or within a week for urgent cases.From 2017-18 a new waiting time measure will track the proportion of patients being seen within a month of referral, or within a week for urgent cases.
The shortlist for the Wellcome book prize - which rewards the best book, fiction or non-fiction, that involves health, medicine or illness - will be revealed on Monday.The shortlist for the Wellcome book prize - which rewards the best book, fiction or non-fiction, that involves health, medicine or illness - will be revealed on Monday.
The winner is announced on 25 April.The winner is announced on 25 April.
Last year the coveted £30,000 prize was won by Marion Coutts for her book The Iceberg - which is a memoir charting the last 18 months of her late husband's life.Last year the coveted £30,000 prize was won by Marion Coutts for her book The Iceberg - which is a memoir charting the last 18 months of her late husband's life.
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