Researchers find alarming increase in eating disorders for female adolescents during and after pandemic

Abstract

Eating disorders increased alarmingly during the pandemic for teen girls, who also had increased rates of other psychiatric disorders. Several pediatric health organizations in 2021 declared a state of emergency due to increased mental health conditions among youth. These problems seemed to be exacerbated by the pandemic, which resulted in disruptions in daily life, social isolation, family economic problems, increased social media use, and reduced access to health care. All of these conditions existed, and all could have negative effects on mental health.