‘Worrying’ trend sees number of children with eating disorders DOUBLE in six years as experts blame social media for fueling the rise
‘Worrying’ trend sees number of children with eating disorders DOUBLE in six years as experts blame social media for fueling the rise
- About 11,800 young people were treated last year, compared to 5,240 in 2016-2017
- NHS targets say 95% of urgent cases should be seen within a week of referral
- But only 78% were seen within the time frame in the third quarter of 2022-23
Eating disorders in children have doubled in the past six years, according to devastating new analysis.
Social media has been blamed for fueling the rise, with 11,800 children and young people treated last year – up from 5,240 in 2016-2017.
Nearly half (45 percent) had to wait more than 12 weeks to start treatment, an increase of almost three times over the same period.
While the majority of hospitalizations are girls and young women, the number of boys and young men requiring hospital treatment doubled in the same period, an analysis by the Children’s Commissioner found.
England’s children’s commissioner targeted websites promoting “harmful eating disorders” online, saying more needs to be done to tackle the “worrying” trend.
Social media has been blamed for fueling the rise, with 11,800 children and young people treated last year – up from 5,240 in 2016-2017. Nearly half (45 percent) had to wait more than 12 weeks to start treatment, an increase of nearly three times over the same period
Dame Rachel de Souza said: ‘It is worrying that children and young people are waiting longer and longer for treatment for eating disorders, which are often serious and potentially life-threatening.
‘Young people deserve timely access to effective care.’
She added: “The government should also focus on addressing some of the potential causes of disordered eating.
“Children need to be robustly protected from harmful eating disorder content online, which can cause body image issues.”
Since 2021-2022, the NHS has set a target for 95 per cent of children and young people with an eating disorder to start treatment within one week for urgent cases and four weeks for non-urgent cases.
But analysis shows that only 78 percent of urgent cases and 81 percent of non-urgent cases were seen within the targeted time frame in the third quarter of 2022-23.
The number of young people being treated in hospital for an eating disorder has also risen, with 24,300 people hospitalized in 2020-2021 – an 84 percent increase since 2016-2017.
Nearly half of these patients were under 25 years of age and the vast majority were young women and girls.
However, analysis also shows that admissions of young men have almost doubled since 2016-2017, from 467 in 2016-2017 to 909 in 2020-21.
It is estimated that around 1.25 million people in the UK currently suffer from an eating disorder, such as bulimia, anorexia or binge eating disorder.
Anorexia is known to have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. That is why the children’s commissioner calls for timely access to effective and potentially life-saving treatments for children and young people.
Ms De Souza added: ‘This is a critical juncture with the government’s key conditions strategy to address this growing problem and ensure we continue to focus on the needs of children.
“I hope that merging the mental health and wellness plan with other key terms in this strategy will not dilute the focus on children’s mental health. I have submitted my response and look forward to the government’s strategy.’