EXPERT REACTION: One in five kids and teens struggle with disordered eating
Embargoed until:
Publicly released:
2023-02-21 03:00
22% of children and teens show signs of disordered eating, according to international researchers who looked at assessments using the same diagnosis tool across 16 countries. They compiled studies that used the SCOFF questionnaire to assess rates of disordered eating in samples of children aged 6-18 in countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and one in Africa. They say girls were more likely to show signs of disordered eating at 30%, and kids who were older or had a higher BMI were at greater risk of disordered eating.
Journal/conference: JAMA Pediatrics
Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5848
Organisation/s: Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Funder: Dr López-Gil is a
Margarita Salas Fellow (Universidad de Castilla-La
Mancha; 2021-MS-20563). Dr García-Hermoso is a
Miguel Servet Fellow (Instituto de Salud Carlos III;
CP18/0150). No other disclosures were reported.
Media release
From: JAMA
About The Study: This systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies including 63,000 participants from 16 countries found that the overall proportion of children and adolescents with disordered eating was 22%. The proportion was further elevated among girls, as well as with increasing age and body mass index. These high figures are concerning from a public health perspective and highlight the need to implement strategies for preventing eating disorders.
Authors: Jose Francisco Lopez-Gil, Ph.D., of Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in Cuenca, Spain, and Hector Gutierrez-Espinoza, Ph.D., of Universidad de las Americas in Quito, Ecuador, are the corresponding authors.
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Expert Reaction
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