Eating disorders in boarding schools: A survey of school matrons

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 160 boarding school matrons to investigate how many had encountered eating disorders amongst their pupils, as well as how they had managed these cases. Of the 114 usable responses, 78 (68 per cent) reported coming across a pupil with either anorexia or bulimia. Although medical care was the most frequent course of action, only 24 respondents (21 per cent) felt it had been helpful. Fifty-one per cent of matrons who had encountered a pupil with an eating disorder felt that there was not enough help available, most calling for more information and education about eating disorders. The findings highlight the role that schools have in recognizing eating disorders at an early stage and have implications for prevention programmes.