Body dissatisfaction and uncontrolled dieting are increasing among adolescents
By now it is well known that the mental health of people in general, and of the younger population in particular, has been and continues to be clearly harmed by the pandemic. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-harm, suicidal behavior and, quite notably, eating disorders have increased.
Although we do not yet have updated epidemiological data that allows us to know exactly what increase in cases of eating disorders we are talking about, we do have some data that provides us with important clues to take into account. This is the case of the results obtained in the survey that the Association Against Anorexia and Bulimia conducted during the 2020-2021 school year among 5,135 high school adolescents and which we have been able to compare with the data from the 2019-2020 school year, before the outbreak of the pandemic.
According to this survey, currently 41% of girls have gone on a diet to lose weight without professional supervision , 7% more than before the pandemic , and 47% of girls express not feeling satisfied with their body because they want to lose weight, 15% more than before the pandemic. In the case of boys, there is also an increase, since 21% express that they want to lose weight, 6% more than before the pandemic. If we take into account the data of non-binary people, although it is a very small sample (59 people) and we do not have data from the 2019-2020 academic year to compare, we should be aware that 57% want to lose weight and 54% have gone on a diet to try to lose weight without medical supervision.
The Pandemic Triggers Cases of Anorexia and Bulimia
Knowing that the adolescent age group, body dissatisfaction and changes in eating habits to lose weight are risk factors for developing an eating disorder , we need to ask ourselves what weapons we have to fight effectively against these pathologies, which are responsible for a great deal of suffering in both the affected person and their family. And although, fortunately, we have different effective weapons, there is one that is especially important to use: early detection and intervention. The sooner we identify the warning signs of a possible eating disorder , the sooner we carry out a diagnostic assessment to confirm it and the sooner we start specialized treatment carried out by a multidisciplinary team , the more guarantees we have of successfully overcoming eating disorders. And by success we mean that we will have managed to prevent years of intense emotional suffering, a life project halted and conditioned by the disorder, physical consequences such as, for example, possible difficulties related to fertility, and torture surrounding a habit as ordinary as the act of eating. That is why it is essential to know the main warning signs of a possible EDC and what to do if a case is suspected .
Laia Asso Ministral: "We observe that eating disorders are being diagnosed at increasingly younger ages."
For this reason, the Association Against Anorexia and Bulimia calls for a Plan for the Prevention of Eating Disorders in Catalonia , which emphasizes the ability to detect and treat cases of eating disorder as soon as possible, which, although it can develop at any age, most commonly begins during adolescence.
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