Hospital admissions for eating disorders spike among young female population
In Germany, there has been a significant increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders among girls and women over the past 20 years. According to the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse health insurance company, approximately 460,000 people in Germany had a diagnosed eating disorder as of May 2023, with girls and young women accounting for a majority of these cases.
The director of the Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents at the University Hospital Cologne, Stephan Bender, suggests that this trend does not show signs of reversal. Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, a senior professor at the University Hospital Aachen, attributes this increase during the pandemic to the restrictions, which led to isolation, increased focus on eating, weight, and social media.
The most frequently diagnosed eating disorder in 2023 was anorexia nervosa, accounting for over three-quarters of cases. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are global concerns, with rising prevalence and clinical presentations.
Causes for this trend are multifaceted. Influences include increased social media and cultural emphasis on body image and thinness, mental health awareness leading to more diagnoses, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating symptoms due to social isolation, stress, and disruptions in routine, and societal pressures, trauma, genetic vulnerability, and comorbid psychiatric conditions.
Early detection and treatment are crucial to combat these disorders. Germany has implemented mental health screening programs in schools, expanded training for healthcare providers, launched public health campaigns, and integrated digital tools and helplines to provide early support. However, according to Herpertz-Dahlmann, too little is being done to improve early detection and outpatient treatment.
Despite long waiting times for hospital treatment often meaning that patients are already severely ill by the time they are admitted, the average treatment duration for both women and men increased to 53.2 days in 2023, the highest value since 2003. The average length of a hospital stay in 2023 was 7.2 days.
The number of deaths from eating disorders fluctuates greatly from year to year, with a peak of 100 deaths in 2008. In 2023, 78 people died from the consequences of an eating disorder. The incidence of anorexia increased the most among young patients aged 10 to 14.
The KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse health insurance company also points to the booming self-optimization scene and questionable ideals, with girls being directly addressed by relevant videos on social media as a contributing factor. It is worth noting that no new information about the percentage of hospital treatments for eating disorders that were for men was provided in this paragraph.
Extensive clinical literature and national health reports confirm these patterns and interventions. For the most precise up-to-date statistics and program details, consulting official German health ministry publications or specialized eating disorder registries would be necessary.
- The increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders among girls and women in Germany over the past 20 years is a concern, with mental health awareness, social media influence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and societal pressures being potential causes.
- Improving early detection and outpatient treatment for eating disorders is crucial, as long waiting times for hospital treatment often result in patients being severely ill by the time they are admitted.
- The importance of nutrition in mental health, women's health, and overall health and wellness cannot be overstated, with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder being global concerns that require comprehensive approaches to prevention, treatment, and understanding.
