How policymakers should respond to the rise in eating disorders
Chris Harley
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
The number of young people being treated for eating disorders has doubled in the past six years. Alongside this exponential increase in cases is a rise in wait times on the NHS, too, as they struggle to deal with the influx in the face of government cuts and the cost-of-living crisis.
To get to the bottom of what’s going on and why so many young people are developing eating disorders, we’ve got the latest clinical take.
Why are more young people developing eating disorders?
Between 2016 and 2017, 5,240 young people began treatment for an eating disorder on the NHS. By 2022/2023, that number has soared to 11,800.
There are a number of factors that could be driving up the cases of eating disorders among young people. One that’s widely considered as a definite cause is social media.
62 per cent of young people aged three to 17 had a social media profile, with a whopping 33 per cent of five- to seven-year-olds using the different platforms. LuxuryRehabs.com states that: “Mass media rules today’s society. Movies, TV, and social media trends dictate beauty standards. And for most people, those standards are unachievable. This can do a lot of damage to your self-image, especially for young people.”
While it definitely has its perks, social media also opens up young people to harmful content that can quickly make them feel more aware of their bodies and create feelings of inadequacy.
A New York Times article, for example, revealed that within just half an hour of signing up for TikTok, a 13-year-old can be exposed to eating disorder-related content. With filters distorting reality, too, and influencers promoting unrealistic body image ideals, it’s not always a safe place for children to be.
Another reason for the sharp increase in cases is Covid. During the pandemic, young people around the world saw a drastic shift in routine with schools temporarily closing and face-to-face social interaction no longer allowed.
These changes had a huge impact on the mental health of young people, some of whom faced more stress and anxiety because of the switch in lifestyle. They weren’t in control of anything going on around them - something that’s tough on even the most resilient of minds.
The end result was a marked increase in self-harm and eating disorders during the pandemic, with diagnoses of the latter being 42 per cent higher than expected during this time.
How should policymakers respond?
In terms of reaction, policymakers must take this drastic rise in eating disorders seriously and act quickly. Young people need easy-to-understand guidance on how to seek help and an NHS that can provide services instantly.
To do this, there has to be long-term investment in the NHS’ early intervention services both to provide high-quality care for young people and to ease the strain on our healthcare system. According to the NHS, in response to the surge in cases, they are ‘investing an additional £79 million into children’s mental health services [...] with funding being used to ensure at least 2,000 more children and young people start eating disorder treatment.’
There are a range of helplines and support programmes available for young people who may be struggling.
Final words
Identifying the causes of eating disorder trends is just the start of this journey. Now it’s time for action. Our policymakers must rise to the challenge, identifying the severity of this problem and bringing about change to help those who need it.
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Chris Harley is a mental health specialist based in San Francisco
