Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental health conditions and all doctors in contact with children should be aware of the warning signs, experts have warned.

Eating disorders refer to a number of illnesses that are characterised by disordered eating patterns and negative thought processes about body weight and shape, that become deeply ingrained in a person.

They include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

According to consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, Prof Fiona McNicholas, and psychiatry nursing student at Trinity College Dublin, Diarmuid Lynch, eating disorders are ‘debilitating conditions with significant adverse medical, psychological and social impact on the individual and the family'.

"They are notoriously difficult to treat, especially if presentation has been delayed, and have the highest mortality rate of all mental health conditions," they pointed out.

They said that as the age of onset is usually during the teen years, it is ‘imperative that professionals working with children and adolescents are alert to the possibility of an eating disorder and initiate the appropriate treatment without delay'.

Prof McNicholas and Mr Lynch emphasised that a complacent approach to a young person who is losing weight, or not gaining enough weight, ‘is never justified'.

"Complacency about intentional weight loss, or a misinterpretation of body image dissatisfaction as the ‘normal discontent' of westernised females has no place in managing these very vulnerable individuals. All clinicians in contact with children should be aware of the warning signs and make the appropriate referrals for treatment," they said.

They emphasised that early intervention significantly improves the outcome for people with eating disorders. Better outcomes are particularly more likely if there is an early age of onset (before 18 years), a short duration of illness before treatment and better family functioning.

They added that around half of those affected will recover, although this may take up to five years.

"For a significant group, it represents a chronic disorder with periods of relapses at times of stress. Helping the young person identify these stressors and managing them in ways other than not eating is a fundamental part of treatment," they said.

Prof McNicholas and Mr Lynch made their comments in Forum, the Journal of the Irish College of General Practitioners.