Since the start of the health crisis, services specializing in TCA throughout France have observed a 30 to 40% increase in admissions requests depending on the region. It is essential to be able to detect them as early as possible.
It is already the sixth world day, but only the first national day in France: June 2, 2021 was chosen by the French Anorexia Bulimia Federation to inform about these disorders. Eating disorders (ACD) concern, according to them, nearly a million people in France. Problem: how many are not screened? These disorders are mainly associated with anorexia and bulimia, but we can also think of overeating or orthorexia. However, they have real and lasting harmful impacts on the daily lives of people with the disease and those around them. They usually arrive in adolescence, mostly affecting women.
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They can also affect men, or occur later in life. For example, recent studies indicate that 5% of women in their forties suffer from eating disorders and that more and more of them are admitted to specialized care centers according to the FFAB. However, the prognosis of patients who begin care at this age is generally more unfavorable.
The pandemic seems to have accelerated these troubles
These eating disorders are strongly linked to the concept of mental health. However, this took a hit with the successive confinements according to the studies carried out among the French by Inserm. It may therefore concern you, or one of your relatives. Listening numbers exist to talk about it. You have the right to be taken care of properly, a charter was even officially written about it in 2006.
Read also: Anorexia: how to break the downward spiral?
For guidance and help, you can turn to the TCA helpline on 0810 037 037 (price of a call + € 0.06 / min), open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The calls are anonymous for both the caller and the listener. This telephone line is at the service of patients, relatives and professionals directly or indirectly confronted with TCA. It is provided by specialists in these disorders: either professionals (doctors, psychologists) members of the TCA Francilien Network or the French Anorexia Bulimia Federation (FFAB), or by members of family and user associations belonging to the FNA -TCA (National Federation of TCA Associations.)
The listener answers all the questions, requests for information on the manifestations of the TCA, their evolution, on the treatments, the places of care whatever the age: child, adolescent, adult more or less young. He also addresses the situation of loved ones, which is so fundamental and so difficult. No question is to be avoided.