A helpline for people with eating disorders saw a 38 per cent increase in calls last year, according to Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association.
The helpline (1890 200 444), which is aimed at people with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders, received more than 3,000 calls last year.
Catherine Joyce, the communications and advocacy officer with Bodywhys, said the increase in calls may be due to increased awareness of the service, or it could mean that more people need help to deal with these conditions.
"It's impossible to know, as no official research has been done into the prevalence of eating disorders in Ireland," she said.
Data from countries similar to this State suggests that about 200,000 people have an eating disorder here.
Ms Joyce said there was a "definite need" for an agency such as the HSE to conduct research to establish the prevalence of eating disorders in this State.
She also called for the funding of a dedicated national adult eating disorders service.
A Vision for Change, the Government's national mental health policy, recommends that 24 beds be available nationally for specialist eating disorder services but there are currently only three such specialist beds, according to Ms Joyce.
