Study highlights alarming overlap between mental health issues and disordered eating in youth

A new U.S. study based on the 2022-2023 National Survey of Children’s Health reveals that nearly one-third of young people with neuropsychiatric conditions exhibit disordered eating behaviours, emphasising the urgent need for routine screening and early intervention.

A new U.S. study suggests that disordered eating behaviours are far more common among children and adolescents with neuropsychiatric conditions than among their peers, adding fresh evidence that mental and physical health risks often overlap early in life.

Drawing on the 2022-2023 National Survey of Children’s Health, researchers analysed responses for 68,000 children aged 6 to 17 and found that 30.1% had at least one disordered eating behaviour. The most common was extremely picky eating, followed by low interest in food, skipping meals or fasting and binge eating. According to the study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, anxiety, depression, behavioural or conduct problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were all linked with significantly higher odds of disordered eating.

The strongest association was seen with depression, which was tied to more than four times the odds of disordered eating overall. Anxiety and behavioural or conduct problems were each associated with roughly threefold higher odds, while ADHD was linked to more than double the odds. The study also found elevated risks across nearly every behaviour examined, including purging or vomiting, over-exercising and eating out of fear of vomiting or choking.

The findings fit into a broader body of research showing that disordered eating is common in young people. A systematic review published in JAMA Pediatrics found a global prevalence of about 22% among children and adolescents, while the National Institute of Mental Health says eating disorders affect an estimated 2.7% of U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 18 over their lifetime. The authors of the new study said the results support routine screening in paediatric and mental health settings, along with earlier intervention to address both eating problems and psychiatric comorbidities. They noted that the analysis was based on parent reports and could not establish cause and effect.