Eating Disorders: "30% of Cases Concern Young People Under 14"

March 15 is the Purple Ribbon Day, dedicated to raising awareness of eating disorders (ED), a fundamental event to not turn off the spotlight on a constantly growing problem, which affects thousands of young people and adults in Italy.

"Thirty percent of cases involve children and teenagers under 14," explains Federica Pinna, director of Psychiatry at San Giovanni di Dio, recalling that nutrition and eating disorders (DNA) represent a growing health emergency with serious repercussions on mental and physical health.

"Adolescents and young adults are most at risk," explains Professor Pinna. "We are seeing a lowering of the age of onset. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, there has been an increase of over 30% of cases, with a worsening of clinical conditions and an increase in hospital admissions."

The research group has conducted several studies on disturbed eating behaviors, especially among adolescents and people with diabetes. A study of over 3,000 students from eight high schools in Sardinia found that 44% of students who had drunk alcohol in the previous three months had shown behaviors related to drunkorexia, such as fasting or self-induced vomiting, to consume large quantities of alcohol without gaining weight or to obtain the effects of alcohol more quickly.

Seventeen percent of students (32% of girls and 5% of boys) showed significant problems indicative of a clinical risk for eating disorders.

The situation is also worrying among diabetic patients. A survey of 211 patients treated with insulin revealed that 22% of them suffered from eating disorders and 60.2% practiced omission or restriction of insulin to lose or control weight.

The most well-known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. In Italy, over 3 million people receive treatment for eating disorders from the National Health System, while worldwide, more than 55 million people are treated. Risk factors include aesthetic models propagated by the media, which promote an ideal body image and thinness.

"The main goal is the patient's psychophysical well-being," adds Pinna. "Treatments include individual, family and group psychotherapy, psychotropic drug therapy, nutritional therapy and rehabilitation programs."

(Unioneonline/Fr.Me.)