As global panic from the COVID-19 pandemic begins to slow down, the true extent of its impact on public health is beginning to surface. While much attention has rightfully been placed on containing the spread of the virus and addressing its direct health consequences, there is a silent epidemic that has been lurking in the shadows: the surge in eating disorders among Canadian youth. Recent data has revealed a startling reality, emergency visits and hospitalizations for eating disorders in children and adolescents in Canada were 1.6 times higher in the first year of the pandemic than between 2017 and 2019, with up to a 132% increase in hospitalization rates (Coelho et al., 2023). This surge not only underscores the urgent need for intervention, but also sheds light on the dire need for increased funding and research dedicated to understanding and addressing eating disorders in Canada.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, do not just affect the body; they wreak havoc on mental and emotional well-being. Imagine waking up each day feeling as though you are trapped in a prison of your own making, your mind consumed by relentless thoughts of food, weight, and control. Every meal becomes a battleground, every calorie counted, every bite scrutinized. It is like living in constant turmoil, with no rest from the chaos within. This grim reality is a lived experience for millions of Canadians silently battling these debilitating conditions.
The statistics paint a chilling picture of the crisis at hand. Data from pediatric hospitals across Canada reveal a 60% surge in new cases of restrictive eating disorders during the early stages of the pandemic, with the numbers nearly tripling compared to the pre-pandemic period (Coelho et al., 2023). Strikingly, this surge defies traditional gender stereotypes. Contrary to the long-held belief that eating disorders predominantly affect females, recent research challenges this notion. Smith et al. (2023) reveal a staggering 416% increase in cases among males in Ontario from 2002 to 2019. These substantial increases in eating disorders, particularly among males, highlight the critical need to allocate more funding towards eating disorder research to better understand who is at risk and why. It is a call to action we cannot afford to ignore.
Unlike other illnesses that garner widespread attention and funding, eating disorders often suffer in the shadows of public health priorities. Yet, their impact is profound, with high rates of medical complications, functional impairments and the highest mortality rates among all psychiatric illnesses (Smith et al., 2023). Plus, the toll is not just physical; it is financial too. Families grappling with this illness face steep treatment costs and a scarcity of specialized care. Moreover, as many family members often assume the role of primary caregivers to their loved ones battling the disease, this can lead to further heightened familial distress.
In Canada, research dedicated to eating disorders is distressingly neglected. While conditions such as bipolar disorder garner significant attention and funding, eating disorders are left behind, receiving a mere fraction of the resources allocated to other psychiatric conditions. This glaring discrepancy is reflected in the numbers: in 2018, research funding per individual for eating disorders amounted to an insignificant $0.70 per Canadian, compared to $50.17 for schizophrenia (Stone et al., 2021). This underinvestment not only perpetuates the suffering of countless Canadians but reflects a broader societal disregard for the predicament of those afflicted by eating disorders.
If there is any doubt about where funds should be directed, a recent survey identifies effective treatment options as the top priority for eating disorder research. This includes the need for a deeper understanding of the biological aspects of eating disorders and predictive factors for treatment outcomes (Obied et al., 2020). However, the current level of research-related investments is insufficient and is a barrier to addressing these priorities.
It is time for Canada to step up and prioritize this silent epidemic. By investing in research and funding dedicated to understanding and treating eating disorders, we can rewrite the narrative for millions of Canadians. We can usher in a new era of hope, healing, and resilience, but it starts with recognizing the issue’s urgency and taking decisive action. Let’s not wait until it is too late. The time to act is now.
References
Coelho, J. S., Booij, L., Katzman, D. K., Dimitropoulos, G., & Obeid, N. (2023). The economic impact of eating disorders in children and youth in Canada: a call to action to improve youth eating disorder research and care. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00794-z
Obeid, N., McVey, G., Seale, E., Preskow, W., & Norris, M. L. (2020). Cocreating research priorities for anorexia nervosa: The Canadian Eating Disorder Priority Setting Partnership. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(5), 662–672. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23234
Smith, S. A., Charach, A., To, T., Toulany, A., Fung, K., & Saunders, N. (2023). Pediatric patients hospitalized with eating disorders in Ontario, Canada, over time. JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2346012. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46012
Stone, K. D., Dimitropoulos, G., & MacMaster, F. P. (2021, August 1). Food for Thought: a dissonance between healthcare utilization costs and research funding for eating disorders in Canada. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/pmc/articles/PMC8315219/
