Why are eating disorders still rising in girls?

Why have, for many years, eating disorders disproportionately affected girls?

In a previous episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we focused on how eating disorders affect boys and men.

For boys and men, it is a relatively new topic of discussion, even if the issue has been around for some time.

But girls and young women eating disorders have been spoken about in public discourse for much longer.

The problem is, the number of people affected is still rising.

According to the NHS, more young people than ever are receiving treatment for eating disorders.

In the last year, there has been a 35% increase in hospital admissions, with girls aged 17-to-19 having higher rates than any other demographic.

They are difficult figures to ignore and raise the question: Why do eating disorders affect more girls than boys?

What role do the media, the food industry, and social pressure have to play?

And, as the London Centre for Eating Disorders suggests, has the Covid pandemic had an impact on cases?

Fiona Hamlin, Registered Dietitian

Fiona is a qualified HCPC Registered Dietitian and is passionate about educating and promoting good health and wellbeing. She has more than eight years of clinical experience in the NHS.

Fiona is an expert in behaviour change counselling and motivational interviewing and has a special interest in mental health including Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and Diabulimia), Autism and Weight Management.

Cliona Brennan, The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image

Cliona is from the London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image and has more than five years’ specialist experience within the field of eating disorders and has worked with children and adults both in the NHS and privately.

She works with clients suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and ARFID, as well as undiagnosed or unclassified disordered eating.