Increase in Hospital Admissions among Young Females due to Eating Disorders
In Germany, the number of hospitalizations for eating disorders among girls and young women aged 10 to 17 has doubled since the 1990s, according to Stephan Bender, director of the Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy of the Child and Adolescent Age Group at Cologne University Hospital.
This concerning trend has seen the group now constitute nearly half (49.3%) of all eating disorder patients, up from about a quarter two decades ago. The total number of eating disorder hospital treatments across all ages, however, has remained fairly stable, with around 12,100 cases in 2023, compared to 12,600 in 2003.
Anorexia nervosa remains the most frequently diagnosed eating disorder, accounting for over three-quarters of cases in 2023, followed by bulimia nervosa at around 11%. Women dominate these statistics, comprising 93.3% of hospital cases, up from 87.6% in 2003.
The average length of treatment for eating disorders in 2023 was 53.2 days, the highest value since 2003, well above the average hospital stay for all conditions (7.2 days). The increasing length of inpatient stays suggests complex cases that require longer interventions, highlighting the need for better prevention and early intervention strategies.
The rise in eating disorders has been linked to multiple factors including age, gender, BMI, weight concerns, mental health status, and family and social environments. While specific German causes are not detailed, international data note that societal pressures, media influences, and pandemic-related stress have contributed to increasing rates. The Covid-19 pandemic was associated with significant spikes in eating disorder admissions internationally, suggesting a possible influence on recent trends.
Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, senior professor at Aachen University Hospital, suspects that the restrictions on social contacts during the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to an increase in eating disorders, particularly among children. She emphasizes the importance of early detection and community-based treatment families but notes that too little is being done in Germany to address the growing demand and complexity of cases.
The health insurance company KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse published an estimate in May 2023, suggesting that around 459,000 people in Germany had a diagnosed eating disorder in 2023. The increasing use of social media, with a strong focus on beauty ideals that are rewarded with likes, may also be a contributing factor.
Despite the concerning trends, there has been a decrease in deaths related to eating disorders, with 78 deaths recorded in 2023, less than the peak of 100 deaths in 2008. However, this statistic serves as a reminder of the seriousness of eating disorders and the need for continued efforts to combat this issue.
- The rise in eating disorders among girls and young women in Germany has been linked to factors such as societal pressures, media influences, and pandemic-related stress.
- The health and wellness of women is significantly impacted by the high prevalence of eating disorders, with anorexia nervosa being the most frequently diagnosed.
- Regular exercise and fitness, as part of a comprehensive approach to mental health, could potentially play a role in preventing and managing eating disorders.
- Nutrition educators and mental health professionals might need to work together to address the complexities of eating disorders, given the interplay of mental health status, BMI, and weight concerns.
- The rising demand for treatment and the complexity of eating disorder cases in Germany call for increased investments in education and self-development, with a focus on career development for professionals in this field.
- Neurological disorders, chronic diseases, and medical-conditions could also be potential areas of research in understanding the root causes and effective treatments for eating disorders.
- Women's health advocates should consider the implications of social media's beauty ideals on self-image and consider ways to promote a more balanced representation of body types as part of ongoing efforts to improve health and personal growth.
