Press Release: Cross-Party group of MPs to hand in petition at Downing Street calling for action on preventable eating disorder deaths
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A cross-party group of MPs will join campaigners at Downing Street on October 28th to deliver a petition calling for urgent Government action to end preventable deaths from eating disorders.
The petition coincides with the launch of a major new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Eating Disorders, An Inquiry into the Prevention of Eating Disorder Deaths - the UK’s first national strategy to end preventable deaths from eating disorders.
Despite growing awareness, eating disorders remain among the most fatal mental health conditions. The report demands key reforms, including:
Mandatory training for healthcare professionals to improve early diagnosis and care.
A confidential national inquiry into eating disorder-related deaths.
Sustainable funding for specialist services across the country.
Data transparency and accountability for how eating disorder-related deaths are recorded and reported.
Increased research investment to better understand the causes, risks, and long-term impacts of eating disorders.
The report is dedicated to the memory of Zara Taylor, who died by suicide in 2021 after years of inadequate care. Her story echoes the experiences of hundreds of families across the UK.
The hand-in at Downing Street will be attended by a cross-party delegation of MPs, including Sian Berry, John McDonnell, Perran Moon, Richard Quigley, Wera Hobhouse, Zara’s Mum, Debs and Campaigner Hope Virgo.
Hope Virgo, campaigner and Secretariat to the APPG, said:
“Without urgent and decisive action, people with eating disorders will continue to face dangerously inconsistent and inadequate care. Lives are being lost, and families are left to navigate this crisis alone. While there are examples of good practice across the UK, unsafe discharges remain far too common, and the system is failing to prevent avoidable deaths. These failures reveal poor accountability, fragmented commissioning, insufficient training for professionals, and a lack of tailored support for both patients and carers. This is not just a series of gaps, it’s a system in crisis.”
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Chair of the APPG, added:
“The number of lives lost to eating disorders is unacceptably high. These are lives that could, and should, have been saved with early intervention and proper care. This petition and report is a direct call to action for the Government. We must act now to stop more needless deaths.”
John Mcdonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, remarked:
“Too many people lost their lives because of the failure to respond to their pleas for help in tackling this potentially fatal condition. All we are asking for is for the government to put in place a number of basic measures to prevent these tragedies."
Richard Quigley Labour MP for Isle of Wight, highlighted:
"We know that no one should die from an eating disorder, the evidence is there. What we need is a change in approach, from undergraduate training to existing practitioners and support for therapies that work. Our aim of no lives lost to an eating disorder is one we can achieve if we start now"
Notes to Editors:
Spokespeople and case studies available upon request.
The APPG for Eating Disorders is supported by the campaign organisation Dump the Scales, founded by Hope Virgo
The launch event of the Prevention of Eating Disorder Deaths report will take place on 28th October 2025 in the Houses of Parliament.
About Dump the Scales CIC
Dump the Scales is a CIC and national campaign advocating for improved treatment and understanding of eating disorders in the UK, founded by author and activist Hope Virgo. The campaign challenges harmful weight-based treatment thresholds and promotes early intervention and compassionate, inclusive care for all.
About the APPG for Eating Disorders
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Eating Disorders brings together MPs and stakeholders to influence policy, improve treatment access, and raise awareness of eating disorders across the UK.
