Under NICE guidance, people aged 16 and over with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and related eating problems may be offered access to Overcoming Bulimia Online, a self-help programme based on Eating-disorder-focused CBT.

The programme can be used alongside routine monitoring and support from GPs or specialist services and is intended to help people manage symptoms during often lengthy waits for treatment.

Helen Macdonald, senior clinical advisor at BABCP, said: ‘We are pleased to see NICE recognising the value of CBT-based digital interventions for people with eating disorders at a time of long waits for specialist support in the NHS and intense pressure on NHS mental health services. We know that early intervention can help stop conditions becoming more severe and increases chances of full recovery, so cutting the time people have to wait for therapy is very welcome.

‘Online programmes are not a replacement for specialist care, particularly for people with severe or high-risk conditions, but they can provide meaningful support at a critical point when people might otherwise receive little more than monitoring. It is essential that these interventions are grounded in high-quality CBT principles and are delivered as part of a wider pathway that includes assessment, ongoing support and access to trained clinicians.

‘To realise the full benefit of innovations like this, we need enough trained CBT therapists within NHS services to assess, support and step people up to specialist treatment when needed.'