Eating Disorders on The Rise in Teens: Another Consequence of the Pandemic
The number of teens looking for help for eating disorders has skyrocketed during the pandemic. Since March 2020, the National Eating Disorders Association helpline has seen a 40% increase in callers. Of the callers who shared their age, 35% were ages 13 to 17, which is up 5% from 2019. While many teens are seeking treatment, they are faced with months-long waitlists since there are not enough providers to meet the increased demand.
What Caused the Increase?
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the increase. Many people who have eating disorders also struggle with anxiety. So when their world was turned upside-down, they may have been triggered. As a result, some may overeat to try to soothe the anxiety, while others may restrict their food as a means of control.
Research also shows that teens who live in a home with food insecurity are more likely to fast or skip meals to control weight.
Social Media Isn't Helping
Experts also think the increased amount of time spent on social media could be a contributing factor. Teens often compare themselves to their peers, celebrities or other influencers, which can lead to low self-esteem and disordered eating behaviors. There is also a great deal of concerning content, especially on TikTok. When searching for fitness information on social media, it's easy to find triggering content. Due to the algorithms, once a person interacts with certain types of content, they will see more and more, making it hard to avoid potentially harmful posts. The availability of body-editing apps on TikTok and Instagram allows people to post photos that are totally unattainable, which makes the problem even worse.
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