British Study Finds Big Jump in Eating Disorders Among Young Girls

WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- During the early years of the pandemic, girls aged 13 to 16 saw increases in both eating disorders and self-harm, a new study shows.

These long-term consequences need to be addressed, said study first author Alex Trafford, from the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and colleagues.

The report was published June 20 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Among the findings were that eating disorder diagnoses were 42% higher than the expected rate in girls aged 13 to 16, from March 2020 to March 2022. The rate of self-harm diagnoses for this same age group was 38% higher than the expected rate for the two-year period.

The researchers studied this by analyzing health records for more than 9 million male and female patients, aged 10 to 24. Data came from more than 1,800 general practices across the United Kingdom.

The investigators used data from 2010 to 2020 to predict expected rates of eating disorders and self-harm, and then compared those to the actual rates.

The team had expected more than 2,700 eating disorder cases among girls aged 13 to 16 if the pandemic had not happened, but they saw more than 3,800 cases in the age group. While researchers had projected there would be more than 6,600 cases of self-harm, they actually saw nearly 9,200 cases.

These increases were largely seen within less-deprived communities. There is a need for further research to find out why, the study authors noted in a journal news release.

The researchers also called for improved measures in early identification of mental health difficulties, timely access to treatments, scaling up of services, and ongoing support from general practitioners and mental health services. The goal would be to reduce the potential of these issues continuing into adulthood.

More information

The National Eating Disorders Association has help for eating disorders.

SOURCE: The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, news release, June 20, 2023