The COVID-19 pandemic increased eating disorders among young people – but the signs aren't what parents might expect

Eating disorders began to spike among young people shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts believe the increase occurred due to disruptions in daily living, emotional distress and more time spent on social media – which research has shown can lead to lower self-esteem and negative body image.

One peer-reviewed study indicates that eating disorder diagnoses increased 15% in 2020 among people under 30 compared to previous years. Other studies have suggested that patients who already had an eating disorder diagnosis got worse during the pandemic. The researchers reported an increase in eating disorder symptoms along with anxiety and depression.

Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other specified feeding and eating disorders such as atypical anorexia. The peak age of onset is 15-25 years old, but individuals can develop eating disorders at any age.

We are a physician and a psychotherapist who specialize in treating eating disorders in teens and young adults. We’ve seen the increased demand for eating disorder services in our own clinic.

While eating disorders have historically been underdiagnosed in certain groups – specifically males, racial/ethnic minorities, and people who are higher-weight, LGBTQ or from poorer backgrounds – the recent COVID-related increase in patients presenting for care has reinforced that no group is immune from them.

Here are three groups of young people who are often overlooked when it comes to eating disorders.

1. Adolescent boys and young men

Historical research on diagnosing eating disorders has focused on females. This has made it harder for doctors, families and patients to recognize eating disorders in males. For example, adolescent boys may be more prone to focus on muscle strength and steroid use – indicators that are not captured in traditional, female-focused screening tools and diagnostic criteria.

However, newer research suggests that males may account for up to half of all cases of eating disorders. While males have likely been underdiagnosed in all categories of eating disorders, male adolescents seem to be more prone to avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. This is a relatively new eating disorder that involves inadequate food intake but not distress about body shape or size.

Disordered eating – a pattern of problematic eating behaviors that include dieting, skipping meals and feelings of shame but does not meet formal criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis – is increasingly being self-reported by male athletes. This means high school coaches and athletic trainers are a potential source for increased awareness and recognition of problematic relationships with food or exercise in young males.

2. Sexual and gender minorities

Recent studies have also uncovered that disordered eating and eating disorders are more common among sexual and gender minority youth than among cisgendered heterosexual youth. This is thought to be related to higher rates of body dissatisfaction, stigma and victimization in those groups.

Psychologists believe the bias and discrimination that gay, bisexual and transgender youth face increases their stress, negative thoughts and isolation. This may lead to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.

For transgender youth in particular, disordered eating and a focus on body shape and size may also be related to dissatisfaction with physical changes during puberty that are inconsistent with their gender identity.

3. “Normal”-weighted youth

Many eating disorders are not associated with being thin. This means that youth can develop serious medical complications related to their eating disorders regardless of their body size.

For example, adolescents with atypical anorexia nervosa meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa – such as intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, and persistent behavior that prevents weight gain – but they are not underweight. However, they may require hospitalization due to severe malnutrition and dangerous vital signs such as abnormally slow heartbeat or low blood pressure.

Similarly, individuals with bulimia nervosa – who binge eat and then use forced vomiting, laxatives or other unhealthy behaviors to avoid weight gain – can also have normal body mass index, or BMI. Yet they may develop electrolyte abnormalities and severe gastrointestinal issues.

Noticing the signs

Caregivers, coaches, health professionals and all those who interact with young people should remain aware of the increased rates of eating disorders brought on during the pandemic.

The signs that a youth may be developing disordered behaviors or a full eating disorder are not always obvious. For example, indications may include: an inability to take a rest day, or working out more than advised by a coach or athletic trainer; an intense focus on muscle building; avoiding eating in public; a sudden desire to eat “clean” or cut out certain food groups like dairy, meat or desserts; and use of steroids, diet pills or laxatives.

Eating disorders are devastating mental illnesses that have massive social and economic costs. They also carry among the highest mortality rates of all of the psychiatric diagnoses and wreak havoc on the lives of individuals and their loved ones.

Early intervention is important to reduce long-term illness and the emotional and physical devastation that can occur with eating disorders. Breaking down barriers for identification and treatment for all individuals – including boys, sexual and gender minority youth and kids across the weight spectrum – will improve outcomes for those who struggle with these significant illnesses.