INCREASING numbers of people are being diagnosed with eating disorders at the Dorset County Hospital.

Figures released by the Dorchester hospital show numbers of sufferers have increased six-fold in the last five years.

During 2003 four patients there had an eating disorder, but this figure has increased steadily, reaching 24 last year.

Eating disorders cover many conditions but commonly refer to anorexia and bulimia.

Dr Stephen Stanley, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Dorset County Hospital, agreed they seemed to be increasing.

He attributed the rise to growing pressure on young people.

"There are a number of reasons why someone might develop an eating disorder but there is more pressure now on young people to conform to goals they think have been set for them.

"Attractiveness is something we value in society and that often includes how slim we look.

"Most adverts tend to use slim attractive people who have a so-called ideal body shape."

The figures covered people who were diagnosed with eating disorders while at the hospital. Not all were admitted with disorders. In some cases the condition was spotted while the patient was admitted for another problem.

Dr Stanley said anorexia was one of the most common eating disorders - a condition where dieting turns into intentional starvation, causing a person to become dangerously underweight.

He said: "There are higher numbers of young people presented to us with this condition.

"Although there has not been a year-on-year increase, it is becoming more common and is not an easy condition to treat."

But he added: "Eating disorders are a fluctuating thing.

"Sometimes we don't see any for a while then we get a lot at once."

He said the term eating disorder could also cover problems as a result of other conditions like Asperger's syndrome. Obesity remains the biggest eating disorder in Dorset, he added.