Dr Andrew Hill, former chair of the Association for the Study of Obesity and senior lecturer at Leeds University Medical School, told last week's Childhood Obesity conference in London that half of obese teenagers based in the community and children's weight loss camps were victimised or suffered from other mental health issues.
But he said there was reluctance among child and adolescent mental health services and academics to take an active role in the problem, warning many were only "geared up" to deal with eating disorders.
He said: "There is an unrecognised degree of psychological need. It's not there in all kids, but a number are stuck and are unable to make the changes expected of them."
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