Increase in Young Females Hospitalized Due to Eating Disorders
Rising Eating Disorders Among Girls and Women in Germany
A recent report by the Federal Statistical Office has revealed a concerning trend in the number of girls and women being hospitalized for eating disorders in Germany.
In 2023, anorexia nervosa (anorexia) was diagnosed most frequently, accounting for over three-quarters of cases. The statistics show that the share of all patients with eating disorders who are girls and young women has significantly increased over the past 20 years. In fact, in 2023, more than half of all hospitalized patients with eating disorders were girls and young women, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
The number of girls and young women treated in hospitals for eating disorders has doubled from 3,000 in 2003 to 6,000 in 2023. This increase is reflected in the overall number of patients, as in 2023, around 12,100 patients were treated for eating disorders, with the majority being girls and young women. However, it's important to note that the number of hospitalized patients with eating disorders has decreased slightly overall since 2003.
The average length of a hospital stay for eating disorders was 7.2 days in 2023, while the average length of treatment was 53.2 days, the highest figure since 2003. The number of deaths attributed to eating disorders was 78 in 2023, a decrease from the 100 deaths recorded in 2008, which was the highest number of deaths in the 20-year period.
Several factors are believed to contribute to this rise in eating disorders among girls and women. These include sociocultural pressures, mental health trends, digital media influence, changing diagnostic awareness and reporting, biological and genetic factors, and pandemic impacts.
While the Federal Statistical Office dataset primarily provides quantitative hospital treatment data without detailed causal analysis, research and expert consensus identify these key factors as contributing to the rise. Comprehensive multidisciplinary studies would be needed for causal attribution specific to Germany.
In summary, the increase in eating disorders among girls and women in Germany from 2003 to 2023 appears driven by sociocultural pressures, mental health challenges, digital media exposure, and possible pandemic-related factors, alongside better diagnosis and reporting. The official hospital statistics document the scale but not the direct causal mechanisms.
The rise in eating disorders among girls and women in Germany is influenced by various factors, including societal pressures in health-and-wellness, mental-health challenges, digital media influence, and potential pandemic effects. Due to increased awareness and reporting, more girls and young women are now receiving treatment for eating disorders in hospitals, with anorexia nervosa being diagnosed most frequently.
