Don’t rely on BMI alone when diagnosing eating disorders in children, says NHS England

The new guidance states: ‘Single measures such as BMI centiles should not be a barrier to children and young people accessing early and/or preventative care and support.’ Photograph: Camille Wesser/Getty Images

A child’s body mass index should not be the key factor when deciding which under-18s get help for an eating disorder, the NHS has told health professionals.

The new guidance from NHS England to GPs and nurses follows criticism that over-reliance on BMI has led to children who have an illness such as anorexia or bulimia being misdiagnosed and missing out on care.