Increasing eating disorders in girls: social media as a dangerous influence!

Increasing eating disorders in girls: social media as a dangerous influence!

Deutschland - On June 2, 2025, the world day of eating disorders will be committed to draw attention to the dangers and consequences of eating disorders. The latest studies by the commercial health insurance (KKH) in Germany show that the number of these serious diseases has increased dramatically in 12- to 17-year-old girls in recent years. The KKH reported almost 50 percent between 2019 and 2023, which means that the number of diagnoses for anorexia, bulimia and binge eating increase from 101 to 150 cases per 10,000 insured persons. In comparison, the number of young people of the same age remained unchanged with an increase of a little more than 4 percent. The recent data illustrates the alarming location in society, which is increasingly affected by eating disorders. Girls in particular are more susceptible to the pressure to meet the ideals of beauty in the social media age.

KKH psychologist Franziska Klemm emphasizes the influence of social media on the body image and the development of eating disorders. Girls tend to compare with others about social media, which leads to dissatisfaction. The digital world offers a wealth of content that can promote both healthy and unhealthy behaviors. Numerous fitness and nutritional trends are circulating on the Internet that are consumed unfiltered. This can exert high pressure on young people, and the narrowest way to a supposedly perfect body is the goal. Digital trends, such as the so-called "Skinytok", propagate dangerous weight loss methods and contribute to the increasing obsession of perfection. According to web.de, additional statistics show that 33.6% of the 14- to 17-year-old girls have signs of a disturbed eating behavior.

The influence of social media

A large number of studies underpin the connection between the use of social media and the development of eating disorders. Young people who value likes and followers tend to restrict their food intake and are more dissatisfied with their body. As reports [Zeit] (https://www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2024-02/social-media-essstoen-jugendliche-Koerperbild study), many young people are in a critical phase of self-development, in which biological processes and the need for social recognition play a role. Psychologist Katrin Giel from the University Hospital Tübingen explains that social media can act as a trigger for problematic eating behavior, although there is no clear evidence of a direct cause.

The risks for the development of eating disorders are particularly significant in girls and young women who are under 19 years old. Character traits such as anxiety and perfectionism intensify the susceptibility to these serious mental illnesses. It also becomes clear that the consumption of social media not only affects the body image, but also the general eating behavior. It is essential to make a distinction between a healthy lifestyle and a distorted self -perception. Studies show that the waiver of social networks can even reduce eating disorder symptoms.

Enlightenment and support

In order to reduce the health complications associated with eating disorders, early clarification is necessary. Parents should educate their children about unhealthy ideals of beauty and create a stable environment that strengthens the self -esteem of young people. Advice centers such as "Take Care" and "Femail" offer support for those affected, although it is also important to invalidate the myth that eating disorders only occur in underweight people or disappear themselves. The complex causes of these diseases require a comprehensive approach in both therapy and prevention.