Early-onset eating disorders affect about 3 in every 100,000
children under the age of 13, according to a
new study
published in the April issue of the
British Journal of
Psychiatry.
Experts from the UCL (University College
London) Institute of Child Health, who carried out the research,
are calling for “urgent action” to improve both the detection of
eating disorders in young children and availability of
services.
The research team used the well-established
British Paediatric Surveillance Unit of the Royal College of
Paediatrics and Child Health and a new child and adolescent
psychiatry surveillance system, to identify new cases of eating
disorders in children aged between 5 and 13 years, and living in
the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Over a 14 month period, 208 cases of
early-onset eating disorders were confirmed. The researchers
estimate that this gives an overall incidence rate of 3.01 cases in
every 100,000 children. As expected, most of the 208 children with
eating disorders were girls (82%), with boys accounting for
18%.
In total, 37% of the children were diagnosed
with anorexia nervosa. 43% were classified as having an eating
disorder not otherwise specified, because although they showed
symptoms of anorexia they were not underweight.
Only 1% of the children were diagnosed with
bulimia nervosa or binge eating – which the researchers believe is
likely to be an underestimate. The remaining 19% had symptoms of
disordered eating, such as food avoidance and being underweight,
but did not have a preoccupation with their weight or shape.
104 (50%) of the children were admitted to
hospital for treatment – mainly to paediatric wards. All the
children were followed up after a year. At this time, 130 (73%) had
improved, 11 (6%) were worse and 18 (10%) unchanged. Almost
two-thirds (96) of the children were still receiving treatment,
with a small number (7) in hospital for most of the year.
44% of the children had a close family member
with a history of mental illness, most commonly anxiety or
depression. In addition, 20% of the children had a history of early
feeding problems, particularly fussy or picky eating. According to
the researchers, this supports the idea that family history of
mental illness and early feeding problems may be risk factors in
the development of early-onset eating disorders.
Lead researcher Dr Dasha Nicholls, a
consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, said: “Our study
gives the first estimate of the incidence of early-onset eating
disorders in UK and Irish children. It is too early to say if there
has been a rise in the numbers of children with eating disorders in
recent years, but we hope our research can be used as a baseline
from which to monitor future trends.”
Dr Nicholls continued: “Unfortunately, many
eating disorder services are aimed specifically at adolescents.
Childhood eating disorders are not quick or easy to treat. For a
minority of children it may be the start of a severe and enduring
illness, with death rates comparable to some forms of leukaemia.
Our study shows there is an urgent need to consider the needs of
children with eating disorders separately – and not simply lower
the age range of existing adolescent services.”
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Nicholls DE, Lynn R and Viner RM. Childhood eating disorders: British national surveillance study. British Journal of Psychiatry 2011; 198: 295-301