Publication date: Feb 01, 2025

To conduct a meta-analysis documenting healthcare service utilization rates for pediatric (age 148,000 child and adolescent eating disorder-related visits to >300 health settings across 15 countries were included (mean age, 12. 7 years; SD = 4. 1 years; 87% girls). There was strong evidence of an increase in healthcare use for eating disorders during the pandemic (rate ratio [RR] = 1. 54, 95% CI = 1. 38-1. 71). Moderator analysis revealed larger rate increases among girls (RR = 1. 48, 95% CI = 1. 28-1. 71) compared to boys (RR = 1. 24, 95% CI = 1. 06-1. 45) and for adolescents (age ≥12 to 19 years) (RR = 1. 53, 95% CI = 1. 29-1. 81) compared to children (RR = 0. 87, 95% CI = 0. 53-1. 43). Moderator analysis demonstrated strong evidence of increased use of emergency department (RR = 1. 70, 95% CI = 1. 48-1. 97), inpatient (RR = 1. 56, 95% CI = 1. 33-1. 84), and outpatient (RR = 1. 62, 95% CI = 1. 35-1. 95) services, as well as strong evidence of increased rates of anorexia nervosa (RR = 1. 48, 95% CI = 1. 24-1. 75). Healthcare use for pediatric eating disorders increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among girls and adolescents. It is important to continue to monitor whether changes in healthcare use associated with acute pediatric mental distress are sustained beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the authors analyzed data from 52 studies from 15 countries and found a significant increase in healthcare utilization for eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings suggest a larger rate increase among adolescents as compared to children, in girls versus boys, and for anorexia nervosa in particular. Results also indicate increased use of emergency department, inpatient and outpatient services for eating disorders during the pandemic. Risk factors for eating disorders for youth during the COVID-19 pandemic; https://www. crd. york. ac. uk/; CRD42023413392. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as living with a disability. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our reference list. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science.

Semantics

Original Article