M-A | Disordered eating affects 1 in 5 children and adolescents

Summary: The text reports the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis that included 32 studies on the global proportion of disordered eating in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, assessed with the SCOFF questionnaire, a widely used screening measure for eating disorders. The review found that approximately 22% of children and adolescents showed disordered eating, which was higher among girls, older adolescents, and those with higher body mass index. The high figures are concerning from a public health perspective and highlight the need for prevention strategies to address disordered eating. The study has limitations, including the cross-sectional nature of most of the included studies and the use of self-report questionnaires to assess disordered eating, which may be subject to bias.

Article: Global Proportion of Disordered Eating in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Pediatrics (free for a limited period)

Commentary: What is disordered eating? And why do 20% of the world’s kids show signs of it? Experts explain – CNN