A recent study revealed a significant rise in eating disorder diagnoses and incidents of self-harm among teenage girls in the UK during the initial two years of COVID-19 lockdowns. Factors such as social isolation, anxiety stemming from disrupted routines, and school closures contributed to the increase, although the actual number of affected individuals may be even higher than reported by researchers.
The study, published in the Lancet Child And Adolescent Health journal, examined approximately nine million patient records of individuals aged 10-24 from around 2,000 general practitioner practices across the UK.
According to the report authors, there has been a substantial increase in recorded eating disorder diagnoses and episodes of self-harm among teenage girls in the UK since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This report coincides with the testimony of a former chief medical officer who asserted that lockdowns have harmed and continue to harm a generation of children.
Specifically for teenage girls aged 13-16, the study found a 42 percent higher incidence of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia compared to expected rates. For girls aged 17-19, the increase was 32 percent. Cases of self-harm among girls aged 13-16 were 38 percent higher than expected. No increase in self-harm was observed among boys or girls in other age groups.
Dr. Pearl Mok, the lead author of the study, stated that the reasons behind the rise in eating disorder diagnoses and self-harm episodes among teenage girls during the pandemic are likely multifaceted. Factors such as social isolation, anxiety due to disrupted routines, educational disruptions, negative influences from social media, and increased clinical awareness could all play a role.
The study also noted that the increase in eating disorders and self-harm was more pronounced in less deprived areas compared to more deprived areas. This discrepancy may be attributed to differences in healthcare services and challenges in accessing clinical care rather than a higher risk for self-harm and eating disorders in the least deprived communities.
The ongoing UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which investigates the government’s response to the pandemic, has not yet specifically examined the impact of school closures. However, critics argue that the extensive data available on the effects of lockdowns and school closures on children’s well-being should have been prioritized in the inquiry.
Former Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies testified during the inquiry, stating that lockdowns have inflicted significant harm on a generation. She expressed concern about the negative impacts on children’s mental and physical health and emphasized the need for comprehensive plans to address these issues.
Earlier this year, NHS data revealed that over a million children in England required treatment for serious mental health problems, including eating disorders, following the implementation of COVID-19 lockdowns.
The UK government imposed multiple lockdowns and restrictions between 2020 and early 2022. The data from England encompassed children experiencing suicidal thoughts, self-harm, severe depression or anxiety, and those with eating disorders.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the devastating impact of eating disorders and highlighted their increased investment in NHS mental health services to ensure more individuals, including children and young people, receive appropriate treatment. Additionally, they are expanding the capacity of community eating disorder services for children and young people across the country through a government investment of up to £54 million per year by March 2024.