Instagram eating disorder content 'out of control'

Content on Instagram that encourages eating disorders is "spiralling out of control", psychiatrists have warned.

A BBC investigation found children swapping graphic images of weight loss and advice on how to make their illnesses more extreme.

Dr Jon Goldin, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said "vulnerable" people were finding peer groups online.

Instagram says it does not allow content encouraging or promoting eating disorders and removes it when aware.

In January, the case of 14-year-old Molly Russell,who took her own life after viewing self-harm images, led to widespread criticism of Instagram.

After public pressure the platform owned by Facebook announced a wide-ranging review and committed to removing all graphic self-harm images from the platform.

But the BBC has found that posts, hashtags, images and search terms promoting and glamorising eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are common on Instagram.

Many of the posted images are of emaciated young women often accompanied by instructions on extreme dieting and methods for avoiding scrutiny by parents.

Some users will praise others for efforts to lose extreme amounts of weight.

Many of those posting such content will also include their "target" or "goal" weight - often dangerously low.

There is evidence too of children searching for so-called "ana buddies" - others who can help them make their illness more extreme.

In one exchange a user said: "If you're ages 13-14 comment below", concluding with the words "I can't do it alone".

Her post received a stream of replies.

One user said "I can fast and I'm 14", and another wrote "I can totally do it with you".

Finally, one user said: "I'm a little younger than that but I need a buddy too."

Figures obtained by BBC News from NHS Digital show a rise of more than 130% in those aged 19 and under suffering from eating disorders being admitted to hospital in England since 2011.

In 2018 there were more than 2,000 admissions for children aged 15 or under - up by 163% on 2011.