COVID-19 pandemic leads to sharp rise in eating disorders and self-harming among UK teenage girls

The increases were greatest among girls living in the wealthiest areas, which could be due to better GP access.

Young women have reported that the lack of control over their lives during lockdown was a behavioral trigger.

The government is investing in eating disorder services to help more children and young people, but charities maintain that everyone needs access to early support for mental health issues, no matter where they live.

Annabelle, 19, from Surrey, recalls how difficult she found lockdown and how she focused on controlling her eating and appearance.

Sophie Rowland, 18, from South Shields, has been posting about her recovery from anorexia on TikTok and received positive feedback that helped her recovery.

The study found a staggering rise in eating disorders and self-harming among children and young people between 2020 and 2022, with around 42% more cases of eating disorders and 38% more cases of self-harming than expected in the 13-16 age group.

A recent study found that among teenagers and young people, there has been a gradual decline in mental health, and that five children in every classroom had a probable mental disorder in 2022.

Since March 2020, there has been a big rise in eating disorders among the richest in the UK population, with 52% of flagged eating disorders occurring in the least deprived areas and 22% in the most deprived.

The charity Beat says there is still a postcode lottery for care, and everyone needs to get help as quickly as possible.

The NHS is treating more children and young people than ever before, with healthcare professionals under huge amounts of strain.

The study found no sign of increasing rates of eating disorders among boys or young men, and researchers say males have a higher suicide risk than females, suggesting mental health issues manifest in different ways.

The government says it will invest an additional £2.3 billion a year in NHS mental health services by March 2024, alongside £54m a year to increase capacity at children and young people's community eating disorder services.

Help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.