Eating disorders rising in teens and kids
This news segment focused on the rise of eating disorders in teens and children, includes info from the recent JAMA report and features interviews with Dr. Wassenaar and alumna Katie Kittredge.
Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar said more young people are struggling now because many did not start receiving treatment during the pandemic. She also said that new patients’ symptoms are more severe than ever.
“They're very ill from both their eating disorder and their other mental health concerns depression, anxiety, OCD, and all of the consequences of it is that if we don't address the mental health concerns of our youth, it's going to impact them for their entire lives,” said Wassenaar.
A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association documented a 34% increase in eating disorder cases—both inpatient and outpatient cases—in young people during the pandemic.
