Broadcaster Joan Bakewell has apologised after suggesting that growing rates of eating disorders among teenagers are a sign of “narcissism”.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Lady Bakewell, who is chairing the Wellcome book prize judging panel, said she was “alarmed” by the condition in young people but suggested it was a sign of the “overindulgence of our society”.
She added that eating disorders do not occur in countries ravaged by poverty or in Syrian refugee camps.
Bakewell, 82, said: “I am alarmed by anorexia among young people, which arises presumably because they are preoccupied with being beautiful and healthy and thin.
“No one has anorexia in societies where there is not enough food. They do not have anorexia in the camps in Syria. I think it’s possible anorexia could be about narcissism.”
She added: “To be unhappy because you are the wrong weight is a sign of the overindulgence of our society, over-introspection, narcissism, really.”
After her comments were criticised by eating disorder campaigners she tweeted that she was “deeply sorry”.
She wrote: “I have spent 6 hours answering tweets I did not expect the ST to quote my views on anorexia ... and am full of regret that my reported views have caused distress. I am deeply sorry.”
She added: “I am tired now and taking a break from Twitter. Goodnight everyone.”
Her comments were seized upon by Andrew Radford, chief executive of the eating disorders charity Beat, who said clinical psychiatrists, not Bakewell, are in a better position to explain the causes and impact of eating disorders.
“The NHS and academic researchers the world over are declaring eating disorder as a serious mental health disorder and recognising that it killed more people than any other mental health problem,” he said.
“I would tend to trust their judgment. There’s a body of research and logic says it’s a mental health disorder and needs to be taken seriously.
“I’m somewhat sceptical about this comment that teenagers are getting more introspective and it’s somehow a consequence of that. Firstly, if that were true, why don’t they all have anorexia? Second, I’m fairly certain my parents said that about my generation and their parents said it about theirs.
“If you want to know about the causes and impact of anorexia, you should talk to clinical psychiatrists.”
Bakewell’s comments do not help the stigma that already exists around eating disorders and mental health generally, Radford said.
“Mental health and eating disorders in general are misunderstood and under-resourced,” he said.
“You get far too many people saying ‘why doesn’t she eat a bit more food’ or ‘why doesn’t she behave differently’ and that’s unhelpful at the best and harmful at the worst. Poor people going through this terrible disease feel even worse as a result.”
Earlier this year, David Cameron pledged to ensure teenagers with eating disorders receive treatment more quickly.
From 2017/18, a new waiting-time measure will track the proportion of patients being seen within a month of referral, or within a week for urgent cases.
Bakewell also suggested that, while she was pleased to see the stigma around discussing mental health fading, counselling and psychotherapy – including treatment for children – “can get out of hand”.
Her comments provoked anger on Twitter, to which Bakewell responded by saying she was “speculating loosely” on what might cause anorexia. In further responses, she said she believed anorexia sufferers deserve “sympathy and help” but said she was pleased if her comments had triggered some debate over the issue.
If I've stirred a public discussion about anorexia... Good. Let's have more research and information.
— Joan Bakewell (@JDBakewell) March 13, 2016
Bakewell, also president of Birkbeck, University of London, said that asking people “Are you really happy?” gave them a chance to consider anxieties that had not previously crossed their mind.
The Wellcome book prize rewards the best book, fiction or non-fiction, linked to medicine, health or illness.
The shortlist will be announced on Monday and the winner crowned on 25 April.
