Children as young as five are admitted to hospital for treatment for eating disorders, a recovering anorexic says the blame should not be placed on magazines

Just under 600 were aged 12 or under, with 98 aged between five and seven, 99 aged eight or nine and almost 400 between 10 and 12.

The figures came from 35 NHS trusts in England and were released as part of a Freedom of Information request.

Johanna Harrison is a recovering anorexic who was diagnosed at 15.

She said: "I had an emotional and negative relationship with food for a long time. I remember being secretive about eating at seven, eight and nine.