A LEAD clinician is to be appointed to deal with potentially fatal eating disorders, an NHS Tayside committee agreed yesterday.

The divisional primary care committee heard that as many as 76 people in Tayside could be suffering from serious disorders, one of which has the highest rate of premature death of any psychiatric condition.

An international study has suggested there may be 32 people with anorexia nervosa and a further 44 with bulimia nervosa in Tayside—both also known as “slimmers’ diseases.”

People suffering from anorexia live under constant fear of gaining weight, a compulsion that can, in extreme cases, result in starvation and death.

Bulimia involves binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or excessive use of laxatives and diuretics designed to shed weight.

It can lead to depression, heart and kidney damage and damage to other parts of the digestive system.

It has been estimated that up to 20% of anorexia sufferers die as a result of the illness, far greater than any other mental disorder.

A report before the committee said that NHS Tayside’s spending on private sector treatment for eating disorders increased from £400,000 in 2002-03 to almost £800,000 in the last financial year.

The committee agreed to the appointment of a lead clinician who will discuss with colleagues from other health board areas a care strategy for eating disorders.