National study reveals that teen eating disorders are a major public health concern

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that the number of American teens who suffer from eating disorders and struggle with related mental disorders is higher than previously expected.

The report, which appears in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry, was led by researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health. The team examined the results of a survey of more than 10,000 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18. They concluded that up to 2.5 percent of teens had experienced some type of eating disorder, which is up from the 0.5 percent that previous studies had indicated.

Boys and girls were equally likely to develop anorexia, but female subjects were more susceptible to bulimia and binge-eating disorders. Less than half of the participants had received treatment for their conditions.

In addition, a majority of teens who had an eating disorder also suffered from at least one other mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Among adolescents who had developed bulimia, nearly 90 percent had developed another psychological issue.

Young people who have low self-esteem and struggle with eating disorders may benefit from wilderness therapy programs, many of which aim to help problem teens make healthy decisions.