This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35797158
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Joan Bakewell says teenage anorexia a sign of narcissism | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The rise of eating disorders such as anorexia among teenagers is a sign of "narcissism" in society, 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, 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 added. | |
The Labour peer'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." | 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." | 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." |
And when asked by one Twitter user if she had been misquoted or misinterpreted by the newspaper article, she replied: "Misinterpreted: I am deeply sad that young people get anorexia and was speculating loosely about what might cause it." | |
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 more 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 told the newspaper that anorexia was "one example of the way [young] people have become very self-regarding". | |
She 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." | |
'More liberated' | 'More liberated' |
In the newspaper interview 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. | |
"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 prize | Book 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. | |
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. |
Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukwith your experiences. | Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukwith your experiences. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |