Severe eating disorder cases have reached an all-time high in teens, with numbers surging during the pandemic. Adolescent girls, in particular, have been affected, with eating disorders remaining high despite the return to normalcy. Experts warn that eating disorders, especially anorexia, continue to be prevalent among young people.
According to a recent report from Trilliant Health, visits to hospitals for this disorder complaints have more than doubled among people younger than 17 in the past five years. From 2018 through mid-2022, visits among this age group surged 107.4% across all eating disorders, from around 50,000 visits at the beginning of 2018 to more than 100,000 in 2022. Visits related to anorexia nervosa, which has the highest death rate of any mental illness, jumped 129.26%.
The pandemic has exacerbated depression and anxiety, which are triggers or contributors to these disorders. Although eating disorder-related visits decreased after a peak in 2021, they are still high compared to pre-pandemic levels, as adolescents and younger teens struggle with the effects of COVID-19.
Social media is believed to be a significant contributor to the teen disorders crisis. A survey from the nonprofit Common Sense Media found that 84% of teens reported using social media, with the most popular apps being YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. Experts believe that these platforms’ algorithms encourage eating disorder behaviors and reinforce negative body image.
Citing an example of a teen watching home exercise videos, experts noted that algorithms would show more exercise and diet content, spiraling from there.
Social media platforms including TikTok, Meta, and Google have faced lawsuits recently from parents who claim that their teens developed eating disorders due to the platforms. Companies have taken measures by cutting down content and adding warning labels.
Diagnosing these disorders is complex. The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), included binge eating as an official eating disorder for the first time. The DSM-5 omitted a requirement that people lose their periods to be diagnosed with anorexia and included “atypical anorexia” for people with anorexia who aren’t technically low weight. This included a broad number of people into it.
However, “eating disorder care is significantly harder to access right now because of the increase in volume,” notes an expert. “For these teens to recover, they need to get into treatment as soon as possible, and we’re still a long way away from having enough providers to help the number of patients we have.”
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In conclusion, the surge in eating disorders among teens, particularly girls, is a cause for concern. The pandemic and social media are contributing factors, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical. Healthcare providers and social media companies must work together to prevent and address eating disorders among teens.
