FOI reference: FOI-2024-2328
You asked
I would like to submit an FOI request for any stats or info on how many children or people have died from the eating disorder Pica last in 2023 or so far in 2024.
Also, do you have any stats on how many children and people suffer from this condition as of 2023 and 2024.
We said
Thank you for your request.
Our mortality data comes from the information collected at death registration. All the conditions mentioned on the death certificate are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). From all of these causes an underlying cause of death is selected using ICD-10 coding rules.
The underlying cause of death is defined by WHO as:
a) the disease or injury that initiated the train of events directly leading to death, or
b) the circumstances of the accident or violence that produced the fatal injury
There were no deaths registered in England and Wales for the years 2023 or 2024 to date, where the underlying cause of death was coded to F508 – Other eating disorders or F983 – Pica of infancy and childhood. There were 6 deaths where one of these codes were mentioned on the deaths certificate.
We do not hold information on the diagnosis or prevalence of diseases. Please contact NHS England who may be able to help.
For further information, please contact health.data@ons.gov.uk