Abstract
Objective: Eating disorders are a group of mental illnesses that are long-term and potentially life-threatening, affecting individuals’ physical and emotional health and wellbeing. They commonly exist alongside other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety and are associated with a significant reduction in an individual's quality of life and life expectancy. They are poorly understood, and cases may be undiagnosed and thus untreated. This can result in damage to multiple organs, including the brain, heart, and kidneys.
 Methods: This was an online questionnaire-based study, which consisted of 21 open and closed-ended questions. Participants were from years 1 to 4 of the MPharm course at the University of Wolverhampton.
 Results: Fourty two completed surveys were returned. The results of the study revealed that pharmacy students lacked knowledge of eating disorders, which was also illustrated in previously conducted studies amongst other healthcare professions students. Therefore, it is evident that the current education about eating disorders is insufficient in many undergraduate healthcare courses and there is room for improvement.
 Conclusion: Improving future pharmacist’s knowledge about eating disorders would assist better and earlier identification of patients with such conditions, allowing timely support.
Highlights
Eating disorders are complicated mental health conditions involving patterns of unusual eating habits, including; anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating [1]
The results of the study revealed that pharmacy students lacked knowledge of eating disorders, which was illustrated in previously conducted studies amongst other healthcare professions students
Eating disorders is more common in females and young people in general [4] and approximately 13% of young people undergo a minimum of one eating disorder by the time they reach the age of 20 [2]
Summary
Eating disorders are complicated mental health conditions involving patterns of unusual eating habits, including; anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating [1]. Eating disorders may develop at any age but are commonly present during adolescence and early adulthood, affecting more females than males [4]. Social pressures promoting the ‘trend of thinness’ through magazines and television with advice on weight reduction, diets, and the fashion industry, have been quoted as a crucial reason behind the increased incidence of eating disorders and its higher occurrence in females [8]. The portrayal of messages and images focusing on the significance of appearances and slimness can result in major undesirable influences on body satisfaction, weight concern, patterns of eating, and the emotional health of women [9]. Around 40% of females and 37% of males who were overweight had been harassed of their weight by peers or members of the family [11], potentially resulting in weight gain, binge eating, and severe measures for weight control
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