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As a child, Alice started to develop what became an eating disorder, and by 15 she was showing symptoms of severe depression and was admitted to a mental health unit.

Alice had experienced periods of deep depression since she was a teenager and also developed an eating disorder.

The Department of Health said regional adult eating disorder services were commissioned to treat anorexia, bulimia and atypical presentations of these conditions.

The trend has caused particular alarm in France, where experts have warned of how social media can push vulnerable young people towards developing eating disorders.

She says other members of the group developed eating disorders, engaged in self-harm and, in February of last year, one of them attempted suicide.