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Rising eating disorders and mental health issues in Germany

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2026-08-18 09:29 UTC → 2026-08-28 22:53 UTC · added removed

Data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) indicates 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, increasing from approximately 2,800 cases 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 was being the most frequent diagnosis with at 9,000 cases, followed by bulimia with 1,300 cases. Recent 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 sharp nearly 50% increase in cases among girls and women aged 12 to 17, noting a rise from 101 to 150 cases per 10,000 insured individuals 17 between 2019 and 2023. This trend is linked Experts link these trends to broader mental health concerns among German students. Factors such as academic pressure, loneliness, cyberbullying, and sensory overload are cited social media influences, specifically citing unrealistic beauty standards on platforms like TikTok, such as contributors to psychological distress. Experts have noted that a lack of the ‘Skinny Girl Mindset’. Concerns persist regarding treatment capacity sometimes results in capacity, as students with high suicidal ideation being are sometimes returned to classrooms shortly after psychiatric stays. To mitigate these issues, experts suggest schools focus on fostering resilience and self-confidence.

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  1. 2026-08-28 22:53 UTC Rising eating disorders and mental health issues in Germany
  2. 2026-08-18 09:29 UTC Rising eating disorders and mental health issues in Germany

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