Iris Cole interviews Prof. Ronit Lubetzky on childhood obesity (Walla system)
Three out of 10 girls suffer from an eating disorder, according to a shocking new study.
Anorexia, bulimia and other extreme dieting behaviors also affect one in six boys, according to the study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Overall, more than one in five children (22%) suffer from eating disorders.
Scientists pooled data from 32 previous studies involving more than 63,000 participants between the ages of seven and 18 from 16 countries.
"Identifying the amount of eating disorders and their distribution in at-risk populations is essential to plan and carry out actions aimed at preventing, locating and dealing with them," writes corresponding author Dr. José Francisco López-Gil from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain.
Signs of a future eating disorder can appear early in life
Some accuse social media of promoting an ultra-skinny beauty ideal - causing growing body dissatisfaction among young people who aren't even overweight.
The phenomenon could take decades off a person's life, warns the international team.
"Eating disorders are among the most life-threatening psychiatric problems," continues Dr. Lopez-Gil. "People with these conditions die 10 to 20 years younger than the general population."
The study, the first of its kind, is based on a questionnaire called SCOFF (Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food).
A total of 14,856 of the 63,181 children and teenagers involved showed signs of eating disorders, with the rate significantly higher in girls (30%) than in boys (17%).
Rates increased with age and increased BMI (body mass index).
"These findings can indicate priorities for intervention for eating disorders as a global health initiative to prevent possible health problems among young people, especially in girls and young people with a higher BMI," the researchers note, "Our findings indicate that more than 1 in 5 children and adolescents with disorders eating".
More in Walla!
500 dieticians warn: there is a wave of eating disorders in children
To the full article
The situation of millions of children around the world.
A boy and a girl eating ice cream (Photo: ShutterStock)
"It is worth noting that eating disorders and extreme eating patterns are not similar because not all children and adolescents who reported disordered eating behaviors will necessarily be diagnosed with an eating disorder," adds the team.
"However, eating disorders in childhood/adolescence may predict eating disorder-related outcomes in early adulthood. For this reason, this high rate found is alarming and calls for urgent action to try to address this condition."
Millions of children show signs of eating disorders
According to the researchers, in 2019, 14 million people experienced eating disorders, including nearly three million children and teenagers.
"The behaviors associated with eating disorders may lead to greater risk or harm to health, significant distress, or significant impairment of functioning," Dr. Lopez-Gil's team writes in their report. "In this sense, our systematic review and meta-analysis contributes by providing epidemiological evidence about the current state of eating disorders, which, if not recognized and not treated, can lead to harmful consequences for the individual, the family and society," the researchers explain. "Similarly, the high rate of eating disorders found in this systematic review and meta-analysis reinforces the importance of examining eating disorders as part of treatment primary in children".
health
parenthood
Children's nutrition
Tags
Eating Disorders
Children
Children's nutrition