Understanding the Rise in Disordered Eating Among Young People

There is going to be an increasing amount of information coming out in the next 12-24 months around the longer-term impact of COVID and the Melbourne lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. This is a political hotspot and there are mixed emotions and feelings about whether Melbourne did the right thing and managed the situation well. This is not the focus of this article. Instead, as a School that works with children and young people every day, we are in a unique position to observe trends and consider whether they align with what we hear in our classrooms, particularly through our wellbeing team.

This article focuses on disordered eating, as it is one of the many concerns that appears to have shifted since COVID. Not only are more children and young people experiencing these challenges, but the age at which concerns are emerging has dropped to as young as 10 years old.

It is important to establish a common understanding of disordered eating and eating disorders. The Butterfly Foundation, which specialises in eating disorder support and treatment, defines these in the following way:

Disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviours and unhealthy attitudes towards food, eating, body shape or weight that may not meet the full diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. These behaviours can still negatively affect a person’s physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.

An eating disorder is a serious mental illness that meets recognised diagnostic criteria and typically involves persistent disturbances in eating behaviours, alongside significant psychological distress and physical health consequences.

My interest in this area post-COVID began when I spoke with a practitioner who worked in a hospital-based eating disorder clinic. She felt there had been a 40-50 per cent increase in referrals for children and young people whose parents were concerned about their weight or eating habits.

Research from the Butterfly Foundation (1.) and the Victorian Government has since confirmed a significant increase in related concerns following COVID. In Melbourne, there was an 88 per cent increase in body image concerns, a 74 per cent increase in food restriction, a 66 per cent increase in binge eating and a 46 per cent increase in compulsive eating behaviours.

Most notably, there has been a 21 per cent increase in disordered eating between 2012 and 2023.

The latest Deloitte and Butterfly Foundation (2.)analysis found that 27 per cent of all eating disorder cases in Australia occur among young people aged 10-19 years. This proportion has almost doubled since 2012, indicating a substantial rise in eating disorders among adolescents.

The age group most affected by post-COVID eating disorder trends has been adolescents aged 10-19 years, particularly girls. Melbourne’s specialist paediatric eating disorder units recorded a 55 per cent increase in admissions during the lockdown period, with demand remaining above pre-pandemic levels several years later.

The Victorian Department of Health has acknowledged these challenges and developed the Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy to address eating disorders from 2024-2031 (3.).

Historically, adolescent girls have been more vulnerable to eating disorders. Body changes during puberty and the public scrutiny of women’s bodies in society are not new. The risk increased further as children and adolescents gained access to social media, where opportunities for comparison and judgement became constant. Young people were also increasingly exposed to feedback on images of themselves, which often left them feeling judged or inadequate.

These latest statistics add another layer of concern because we know social media use also increased significantly during lockdowns.

Children and young people aged 10-17 were more vulnerable to developing disordered eating during this period due to factors such as:

• Social isolation
• Loss of school routines
• Increased focus on food, weight and exercise
• Reduced participation in sport and activities
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Disruption to treatment and support services

Within our wellbeing team, students who have been back at school for several years are reporting additional concerns around eating in social situations. Some feel highly self-conscious about what they look like while eating or worry that others are paying attention to the way they eat. Others become anxious about conversations relating to food, body image or eating habits.

We also know influencers play a significant role in shaping body image expectations.

For boys, this may appear as pressure to build muscle and achieve a physique that is unrealistic for their age or stage of development. Some may overuse gym equipment or consume supplements that suppress appetite and reduce healthy food intake.

For girls, it may involve pressure to achieve a “flat stomach” before social events, leading some to avoid eating in an attempt to fit into certain clothing. These messages can fuel self-judgement and contribute to unhealthy and, at times, dangerous behaviours.

Schools can either reinforce or challenge unhealthy attitudes towards food and body image.

This can occur through individual conversations when teachers notice changes in weight, a lack of eating during the day, or concerning comments about body image. It can also occur through education and language that discourages comparisons, appearance-based comments and judgement about what others are eating, while promoting healthy and age-appropriate habits around food and exercise.

It is also important to challenge common myths.

Although girls remain statistically more likely to experience eating disorders, this is not exclusively a female issue. Boys are also at risk, and post-COVID increases have been observed among younger boys.

There is also increasing normalisation of behaviours such as dieting, skipping meals before social events and restrictive eating to “prepare for summer”. These messages contribute to an unhealthy culture and can strongly influence young people.

There are many forms of eating disorders. While anorexia nervosa is the most recognised, conditions such as bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder can also have serious impacts on health and wellbeing. Significant weight loss is not always present, but the condition can still be severe.

Online comparison, influencer culture and broader messages around the pursuit of the “perfect body” continue to shape expectations for both boys and girls. These pressures can contribute to unhealthy beliefs about physical appearance and self-worth.

In Part Two, we explore what schools and families can do to support healthy eating habits, identify early warning signs and work together to support young people.

Anne Stringer
Head of Wellbeing

Author: Anne Stringer BA (Psychology); BEd (Counselling Psychology); MEd (Student Wellbeing) – holds the position of Head of Wellbeing at Peninsula Grammar, where she focuses on the well-being of students and staff. Anne’s work is characterised by her ability to inspire and support young minds, contributing to a positive school environment.

1. Butterfly Foundation 

2. https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/services/economics/analysis/paying-price-second-edition.html

3. https://www.health.vic.gov.au/practice-and-service-quality/victorian-eating-disorders-strategy

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