The most frequent eating disorders (EDs) are anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating disorder
The most frequent eating disorders (TCA) are anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating disorder. “Although they affect both sexes, these mental health problems are much more common in women than in men, with an incidence ranging from 4.1% to 6.4% in them, compared to 0.3% to 0.7 % in them”, says Sandra Fernández Ramos, clinical director of Arbore, a center specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and a Day Hospital attached to the Department of Health of the Community of Madrid, on the occasion of the commemoration of March 2 of the Day World Adolescent Mental Well-being.
“The age range in which these types of disorders appear is between 12 and 21 years, although the highest incidence peak occurs between 15 and 18 years,” he adds.
There is no doubt that the pandemic caused an increase in adolescent mental health disorders. According to the Spanish Society of Pediatric Emergencies (SEUP), diagnoses related to mental disorders in Pediatric Emergency Services increased by 10% from March 2019 to March 2021.
More specifically, ACRs have grown by around 40%. In addition, the cases detected are more serious and are diagnosed in more advanced stages and in younger people.