Study: 22% of children suffer from an eating disorder

Feb 21, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer/Editor)

A new study found that one in every five children suffer from an eating disorder worldwide. The data gets worse when broken down by gender. One in every three adolescent girls are said to show signs of disordered eating. The statistics are a result of a sweeping analysis of 32 studies including more than 63,000 children from 16 countries.

Researchers found 22% of children, ages seven to 18, showed signs of bulimia and anorexia among other more uncommon eating disorders.

Authors of the study pinpoint two major causes. The first, children have experienced increased isolation since the pandemic. Second, children are using social media more frequently, which researchers say influence behaviors linked to eating disorders.

Researchers warned eating disorders are among the most deadly psychiatric conditions. They can lead to severe medical complications in organs including the heart, brain, liver and kidneys.

Tags: Children, Pandemic, Social Media, Teen girls, teenagers

KARAH RUCKER: A STUDY IS PUTTING PARENTS ON NOTICE – FINDING THAT ONE IN EVERY FIVE CHILDREN WORLDWIDE SUFFER FROM AN EATING DISORDER.

AND IT GETS WORSE WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN BY GENDER. ONE IN EVERY THREE ADOLESCENT GIRLS ARE SAID TO SHOW SIGNS OF DISORDERED EATING.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO A SWEEPING ANALYSIS OF 32 STUDIES INCLUDING MORE THAN 63 THOUSAND CHILDREN FROM 16 COUNTRIES. RESEARCHERS FOUND 22 PERCENT OF CHILDREN AGES 7 TO 18 SHOWED SIGNS OF BULIMIA AND ANOREXIA AMONG OTHER MORE UNCOMMON EATING DISORDERS.

AUTHORS OF THE STUDY PINPOINT TWO MAJOR CAUSES. CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED INCREASED ISOLATION SINCE THE PANDEMIC. AND CHILDREN ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA MORE FREQUENTLY – WHICH RESEARCHERS SAY INFLUENCE BEHAVIORS LINKED TO EATING DISORDERS.

RESEARCHERS WARNED EATING DISORDERS ARE AMONG THE MOST DEADLY PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS. AND CAN LEAD TO SEVERE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS IN ORGANS INCLUDING THE HEART, BRAIN, LIVER, AND KIDNEYS. WHICH CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO A CHILD’S HEALTH.