Before the pandemic, an estimated 1 million Australians had an eating disorder. But this week, we learned that the number of eating disorder patients has exploded over the last three years. Australian children as young as eight are being diagnosed with eating disorders.  It's a horrifying scenario for their families who would go to extraordinary lengths to get them the treatment they need. So what happens to these families when the healthcare system buckles under the pressure of overwhelming demand?  Today, Health Editor for The Age Aisha Dow on the unbearable burden of eating disorders in Australia, and a warning this episode deals with suicide and self harm. If this episode brings up any concerns for you or a loved one, you can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Lifeline on 131114, The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.   You can also visit Beyond Blue at beyondblue.org.au, Kids Helpline at kidshelpline.com.au, The Butterfly Foundation at butterfly.org.au or Lifeline at lifeline.org.au.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.