By Everything Lifestyle Staff

serious condition

Why More Kids and Teens Have Eating Disorders Now

Jan 21, 2025 | 6:45 AM

Eating disorders are more common in younger people but here’s what you can do to help.

Since the pandemic, cases of eating disorders in teens and even younger children have been on the rise. Social isolation and increased stress have been highlighted as some of the reasons why eating disorders became more prominent in this age group during the pandemic. But even a few years after life started to return to normal, there are still a lot of teens and children affected by this serious condition.

Even as the lives of most adolescents have returned to routines that were similar to pre-pandemic times, including in-person school, sports and social activities, eating disorders in this age group remain at an all-time high. The incidence of anorexia, a condition that involves severe calorie restriction, has especially been of concern. This eating disorder often leads to low body weight and serious, if not life-threatening, health issues.

Health experts still cite the pandemic as the underlying cause of high rates of eating disorders in teens and children. The social isolation and stress that occurred during that period led to unhealthy ways for younger people to cope and deal with stress. It also led to an increased use of social media and screen time.

Social media is a major contributor to the eating disorder crisis. Many social media platforms employ algorithms that reinforce negative body image and encourage eating disorder behaviors. Even though social media companies have been the targets of numerous lawsuits from parents alleging that the platforms caused their children’s eating disorders, it has not helped the problem very much. The companies have taken some measures to cut down on harmful content, but it is still readily available.

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What should you do if you think your teen or child has an eating disorder?

Signs of a potential eating disorder include kids skipping meals, not eating foods they used to like, losing weight, feeling uncomfortable eating around others and wearing baggy clothes to hide their bodies. Teen girls may also have irregular or missed periods. If you see signs or suspect that your child has an eating disorder, your pediatrician or family doctor is the best place to start as you seek help. They can evaluate the child and recommend mental health professionals and nutrition experts who have experience in treating eating disorders in this age group.

How can you protect your children and teens from developing eating disorders?

It may be difficult to prevent some of the biggest influencers of a child’s body image, including what they see and hear from peers, as well as social media. But you can help your child form a healthier relationship with food by not employing strict rules about food and mealtimes. For example, don’t label foods as “good” or “bad” or prohibit eating specific types of food. Also avoid making negative comments about what a person eats or how they look and don’t push kids to diet. And watch what you do or say when it comes to your own weight and body image – children learn a lot from what they see at home.

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_{Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD}