Eating disorders increase dramatically

Almost exclusively women affected by eating disorders

06/05/2014

The number of inpatient treatments for eating disorders has increased dramatically in recent years. Especially women are according to the Bavarian State Statistics Office more affected by mental disorders eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (anorexia nervosa) and bulimia nervosa (Ess-Brechsucht).

The Bavarian State Statistical Office recorded 2,891 cases of inpatient treatment of patients with psychologically-induced eating disorders in 2012. Thus, the number of treatments in Bavaria increased by 12 percent (from 2,575 cases in 2011) compared with the previous year. By far the most affected (93.1 percent) were women. For them, the eating disorders usually appeared in an age between 15 and 30 years, according to the announcement of the Bavarian State Statistics Office on the occasion of the anti-diet day on 6 May.

Anorexia and bulimia most common complaints
In 2000, the number of those with mental disorders as a main diagnosis in Bavaria was still 2,207 cases. Since then, the Bavarian clinics have seen an increase in inpatient treatment by 31 percent. More than half (54.4 percent, 1,573 treatments) of psychiatric eating disorders accounted for anorexia and 22 percent (637 treatments) for bulimia nervosa in 2012, according to the National Statistics Office. The average treatment duration of all psychiatric eating disorders was 50.5 days, well above the average of all in-patient treatments (43.1 days).

Slimming delusion as a cause?
Although the Bavarian State Statistical Office's press release does not cite any reason for the drastic increase in eating disorders, it is reasonable to suppose that especially the media-mediated beauty ideal of extremely slender women had and still has a decisive influence on the development. For years, a move away from the exaggerated slimming delusion is discussed, but so far without effect. (Fp)

Image: Stihl024