The number of New Zealanders with eating disorders seeking help has at least doubled this year, pushing treatment services to breaking point, according to a support group.
Eating Disorders Association of NZ says children as young as eight are waiting weeks to be seen for life threating eating disorders like anorexia.
It's calling on the government to set up a specialist-led panel to investigate ways of providing better services and treatment for eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses.
Association chair Nicki Wilson told Checkpoint numbers needing help have skyrocketed in all age groups.
