December 04, 2023
While Ont. researchers found the number of female teenagers and high-school aged teenagers with eating disorders saw the largest increase in sheer numbers over the study period, the most surprising increases were among those once considered unlikely to have eating disorders: teenage boys and younger children aged 12-14 years old. These patients, once a rare sight for doctors, are increasingly ending up in hospital. Researchers say this shift could be a sign of a growing problem among young boys but it could also be the result of growing awareness around mental health and the ongoing work to destigmatize discussions of eating disorders.