Eating Disorders: Mental Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of NHS mental health funding was allocated to specialist eating disorder services in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The following table shows the amount and proportion of National Health Service mental health funding, as well as the total mental health spend, that was allocated to specialist eating disorder services from 2022/23 to 2024/25:
Financial year | Total eating disorder spend (£m) | Total mental health spend (£m) | Eating disorder spend as a percentage of mental health spend |
2022/23 | 189 | 12,600 | 1.50% |
2023/24 | 206 | 13,900 | 1.48% |
2024/25 | 221 | 14,910 | 1.49% |
The eating disorder spend figures shown are based on categories of spend reported by integrated care boards for Children and Young People’s Eating Disorders and Specialised Adult Eating Disorders services.
These figures may not capture all spending on eating disorder services, as some expenditure may be recorded within other mental health categories where spending lines have been consolidated and cannot be separately identified.
The total mental health spend figures are based on published written ministerial statement data. Comparable figures for earlier years would require additional analysis. Data for 2025/26 has not been included as it remains subject to audit.
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