The holiday period can be extremely difficult for those people who are suffering with eating disorders due to the increased emphasis on food and drink.

“Living with an eating disorder is a constant struggle but Christmas can be particularly challenging with an increased focus on food, drink and big get togethers, while the added pressure of New year resolutions and the bombardment of weight loss messaging is just around the corner,” says Dr Prathiba Chitsabesan, NHS associate clinical director for children and young people’s mental health.

For this reason, the NHS and eating disorder charity Beat have recently published new guidance on how to support people with eating disorders during the festive season, based on first-hand experience from clinicians, patients and parents.

Some of the suggested techniques include serving food as a buffet rather as a sit-down meal, minimising social expectations of people with eating disorders, treating meals on and around Christmas Day as routinely as possible, once dinner is over shifting the focus to other activities, avoiding questions about weight or appetite.

Jameela Jamil left an event early because she was convinced she would be “fat-shamed”