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Times I was denied treatment because of my BMI:
1. When I was 12, my parents took me to the GP. He said "You have an eating disorder" but sent me away with no help because I wasn& #39;t underweight.
2. At age 13 through to 15, I consistently went to the GP struggling with physical conditions as a result of my ED. Not once was I ever referred to CAMHS, because I was "physically stable".
3. At age 17, my mum took me to CAMHS. Within 2 minutes they told me I didn& #39;t have an eating disorder and the appointment lasted less than 15 minutes.
4. At age 18, I went to the GP at Uni as I was collapsing during the day. The GP said I wasn& #39;t quite at the BMI threshold where I could get help.
I went away and lost more weight, when I went back I was critically unwell.
I went away and lost more weight, when I went back I was critically unwell.
5. When I was discharged from hospital, the crisis team didn& #39;t know what to do with me. As soon as I was "physically stable", I was discharged without a formal ED diagnosis (I was still severely underweight).
6. I moved to Birmingham in 2018 and tried again to get help. I was told I couldn& #39;t get help because my BMI wasn& #39;t low enough. When I saw the GP in severe struggle, they got me an "urgent" appointment. I never got the phone call...
7. I then moved to Milton Keynes last year. Once again I tried to get help and again was told "I& #39;m sorry but you don& #39;t fit our funding criteria". Once again, I was left without help because of my BMI.
8. I am now facing the decision to either try again with a service I know will reject me, try out of area who will probably also reject me, or give up on NHS treatment. I cannot afford private and at the moment got declined for PIP because I& #39;m "not unwell enough".
When we say there is stigma and discrimination based on BMI, we mean it. Things have to change.
The worst part is that I know a 12-year-old in my position today would have exactly the same experience as I had 12 years ago.
The worst part is that I know a 12-year-old in my position today would have exactly the same experience as I had 12 years ago.
