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3 clusters · 10 sources · 18 days · First seen · Last updated

Rising eating disorders and mental health issues in Germany

Overview

Data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) confirms a long-term rise in eating disorder hospitalizations in Germany. Over a 20-year period ending in 2024, inpatient cases involving girls aged 10 to 17 more than doubled, from approximately 2,800 in 2004 to nearly 6,000. In 2024, girls in this age group accounted for 48.1% of all patients treated for eating disorders, up from 24.9% in 2004. Total inpatient cases reached 12,400 in 2024, with anorexia being the most frequent diagnosis at 9,000 cases, followed by bulimia with 1,300 cases. Across all age groups, women and girls comprised 92.9% of treated patients in 2024.

Regional data from North Rhine-Westphalia shows inpatient treatments for girls and women increased by 31% between 2020 and 2024, reaching roughly 2,200 cases. Outpatient treatments in the state also rose by 12.5% to 74,900 cases in 2024.

Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH) data highlights a nearly 50% increase in cases among girls and women aged 12 to 17 between 2019 and 2023. Experts link these trends to academic pressure, loneliness, cyberbullying, and social media influences, specifically citing unrealistic beauty standards on platforms like TikTok, such as the ‘Skinny Girl Mindset’. Concerns persist regarding treatment capacity, as students with high suicidal ideation are sometimes returned to classrooms shortly after psychiatric stays. To mitigate these issues, experts suggest schools focus on fostering resilience and self-confidence.

Entities

Statistisches Bundesamt · body’n brain® · TikTok · KKH · North Rhine-Westphalia

Timeline

  1. 14 days ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    North Rhine-Westphalia reports rise in eating disorder treatments

    Eating disorder treatments for girls and women in North Rhine-Westphalia rose by 31 percent between 2020 and 2024, with experts linking the trend to social media beauty standards.

  2. 25 days ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Mental health concerns rise in Germany as eating disorders increase

    Eating disorders among German girls aged 12-17 rose by nearly 50% between 2019 and 2023, amid rising concerns over academic pressure and mental health resources in schools.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 5 sources
    Germany sees rise in eating disorder hospitalizations among adolescent girls

    Inpatient treatments for eating disorders in Germany have risen, with cases among girls aged 10-17 doubling over 20 years to nearly 6,000 in 2024.

Sources

ad-hoc-news.de · eltern.de · embed.presseportal.de · fractal.org.za · heute.de · meinegemeinde.vol.at · pdf.zeit.de · presseportal.de · tagesschau24.de · upday.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history