University of Chester - Weighty matters debated

Why are anorexia and bulimia classed as mental health conditions when obesity is not? That was one of the questions posed by Mike Thomas, dean of the faculty of health and social care at the University of Chester, in an inaugural lecture on the evolution of eating habits. He said: "There is no evidence that cultural or biological reasons are connected with eating disorders. It is a baffling scenario: it seems to be a matter of choice. It is part of an addictive pattern that is a mental health issue."