CDC study finds rise in eating disorder ER visits for teen girls

A new report from the CDC shows emergency room visits for eating disorders doubled among teenage girls during the pandemic.

Kasey Goodpaster, Ph.D., a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, says the increase could be due to a couple of reasons.

"I think about the mental health crisis that’s affected our entire population and the isolation that the pandemic brought about. "But, also some specifics around children and teens and their social media usage, how that then affects their body image and might affect, too, their relationship with food."

So, how can parents tell if their child is struggling with an eating disorder?

They tend to compare their appearance or body shape and size to others – frequently checking their weight, becoming preoccupied with food, or they avoid eating around others.

If you sense something is wrong with your child, don’t hesitate to reach out to a medical professional.