A new study found that one in every five children suffer from an eating disorder worldwide. The data gets worse when broken down by gender. One in every three adolescent girls are said to show signs of disordered eating. The statistics are a result of a sweeping analysis of 32 studies including more than 63,000 children from 16 countries.
Researchers found 22% of children, ages seven to 18, showed signs of bulimia and anorexia among other more uncommon eating disorders.
Authors of the study pinpoint two major causes. The first, children have experienced increased isolation since the pandemic. Second, children are using social media more frequently, which researchers say influence behaviors linked to eating disorders.
Researchers warned eating disorders are among the most deadly psychiatric conditions. They can lead to severe medical complications in organs including the heart, brain, liver and kidneys.