Read the Independent Newspaper article here
Gemma Oaten’s quote in the article below:
Gemma Oaten, charity manager and patron at charity SEED Eating Disorder Support Services, added: “We are living in a world where people are feeling vulnerable, scared and afraid, and a lot of that is manifesting itself in eating disorders.
“Now, the fact that a university has gone to the length to produce this and then share it on social media where all of the people who are struggling right now have access to it is only compounding the whole narrative that obesity is just a physical thing that needs addressing.
“News flash: people who are obese often have eating disorders or disordered eating. We know this all too well – it is a mental health illness. We can’t address the physical without addressing the mental health side of things as well.
“By fitting somebody with a contraption that locks their jaw, no matter what way or reason, whether it is to go for surgery because they need to lose weight before they do that, they need supporting mentally as well. That’s just horrific.”