More young people die as a result of their eating disorder than any other mental illness. Reporter JESSICA SHAUGHNESSY finds out that a life-line for young sufferers in Chester is set to extend its reach. And she talks to one couple whose lives have been torn apart by their dead son's anorexia.

IT COULD be society's current obsession with physical perfection or it might be an increased aware-ness about eating disorders.

Whatever the reason, more young people are being diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia than ever before and, for most of them, recovery is a long process.

But in Chester a pioneering service is evolving from the eating disorders clinic at the Pine Lodge Young People's Centre on Liverpool Road.

A pot of cash from the specialist commissioning group for Cheshire and Merseyside now means that, in addition to treating anorexia, the clinic can care for young people with bulimia and obesity.

Led by Professor Simon Gowers, a leading light in eating disorders research, the service, which caters for 12 to 18-year-olds, will go beyond behavioural therapy to include a host of out-patient treatments.

And with a string of additions to the medical team, the service could soon move into a new, bigger premises to become a day centre - the only one of its kind in the region and one of few in the country.

'This means we will be able to treat more young people with eating disorders,' said Prof Gowers.

'Although we will have some beds for patients, the focus will mainly be on out-patient treatment so sufferers don't have to cope with the added distress of staying in a hospital.'

Prof Gowers is an internationally recognised expert and chaired the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline development group for the treat-ment of eating disorders. He also carries out research for the University of Liverpool.

He has plans for the world's largest study in treatments for anorexia, which will largely be carried out from the Chester clinic.

'About 200 young people with anorexia will be given specialist treatments chosen randomly', he said.

'We will measure their satisfaction with the treatment and its effectiveness. The results of the study will have global implications.'

Prof Gowers said the number of young people in Chester with eating disorders is typical of any other part of the country.

The disorders are fairly evenly spread, with anorexia reaching about one in 200 girls at the age of 16 and about one in 2,000 schoolboys are affected.

The likelihood is, if you go into any high school, you will probably find at least one pupil with anorexia or bulimia.

Prof Gowers said: 'You will probably find more young people who have an obsession with their weight or are preoccupied with

the food they eat - but it hasn't got to the stage of anorexia or bulimia and it might never develop.

'It is impossible to say what causes anorexia, but most people with anorexia have certain personality traits. They are perfectionists, very determined and conscientious and suffer from low self-esteem.

'In some cases, the causes in eating disorders are genetic. Or the patient has experienced a life event, they may have been assaulted or abused.