Eating disorders may be more common among teenagers from poorer backgrounds than their middle-class peers, according to a review of studies by British researchers. The findings challenge the prevailing stereotype that these conditions are primarily a problem of affluence.
The review, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, analyzed data from 51 studies encompassing 26,174 adolescents across North America, Europe, and Australia. Approximately two-thirds of these studies indicated a higher likelihood of eating disorder symptoms in teenagers from lower-income families, with no studies reporting the opposite.
Experts from University College London highlighted that the stereotype of eating disorders as a condition of affluence could lead to serious consequences, including missed diagnoses and delayed treatment for those most in need. "Eating disorders don’t discriminate by income or education," said Dr. Nora Trompeter, lead author of the study and an expert in adolescent eating disorders. "If anything, the evidence points the other way, and treating them as a ‘privileged’ condition risks leaving adolescents most in need of support undiagnosed and untreated."
The research also indicated that having a parent with a university degree was associated with a 25% increased risk of developing conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Conversely, parents with above-average salaries were less likely to have children suffering from these mental illnesses.
However, other indicators of socioeconomic status, including parental employment, financial difficulties, or reliance on government benefits, showed less consistent links to eating disorder symptoms. The review included not only diagnosed eating disorders but also early warning signs like food restriction, fasting, negative body image, and pressure to lose weight.
The research team, collaborating with experts at Copenhagen University Hospital, urged healthcare providers and school counselors to enhance their awareness of early warning signs in teenagers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. "Challenging outdated stereotypes could help reduce missed diagnoses and ensure that those young people who are most in need receive timely treatment," Dr. Trompeter added.
These findings emerge amidst concerns about a significant rise in eating disorders among young people. Recent NHS data suggests that the prevalence of eating disorders in 11 to 16-year-olds has increased five-fold between 2017 and 2023. Analysis by the eating disorder charity Beat estimates that over 3.5 million people in the UK could now be living with an eating disorder, a figure nearly triple previous estimates.
Admissions of children for eating disorders to hospitals have also seen a substantial increase, reportedly rising six-fold between 2012 and 2022. This trend has led to longer hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. Experts attribute the rise in these conditions to various factors, including increased social media use, academic pressures, and the lingering effects of pandemic-related lockdowns.