Hospitals adjust as rate of eating disorders ascends at alarming rate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s a silent struggle many teens may be dealing with right now: more young people are ending up in the hospital because of eating disorders.

A recent study from Stanford University shows cases have climbed from six to sevenfold in the last decade. The Kansas City metro has also seen the alarming trend forcing one hospital to expand its resources in treating eating disorders.

At just 14 years old Jessica Thompson struggled with Anorexia.

“I would restrict my intake throughout the day,” said Jessica. “Then by the end of the day, I was so ravenously hungry.”

Then she would exercise, a little too much.

“Even though my body was depleted even though my body had injuries,” said Jessica.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, nearly 30 million people in the US will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Researches say 95% are between the ages of 12 and 25. Now a new study from the Journal of American Medical Association says more than one in five teens show signs of eating disorders.

“It’s growing tremendously and that’s across the nation,” said Dr. Sara Gould.

Gould is the Director of the Eating Disorder Center at Children’s Mercy. The center treats many teens in the Kansas City Metro for a variety of eating disorders, patients range between 8 and 17 years old.

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Patient count that’s higher than ever. Gould said in one year, the number of patients has tripled, leading now to an expansion of the clinic. Kids and teens treated for Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating.

“We also almost all the time have at least one patient in for medical stabilization so their bodies are ill enough, so they need to be in the hospital,” said Dr. Gould.

Now add to the list ARFID or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, a new condition when patients struggle to eat enough food. Children with ARFID are extremely selective eaters and sometimes have little interest in eating food. They may eat a limited variety of preferred foods, which can lead to poor growth and poor nutrition.

“We accept 10-year-olds and up and new patients we stop at 17,” said Gould. “It is an eating disorder but, unlike the others, there is not a body image component with it.”

Gould said all eating disorders have a genetic component and are influenced by the environment around them, but in many cases by societal pressures.

“It’s not just kids who are more anxious and depressed with worse body image and then they go on social media more. We know it’s the reverse the more time on social media increases those concerns,” said Dr. Gould.

Treatment at the Center can range from therapy to nutrition guidance, but with a family focus.

“Caregivers are powerful in this whole process, they can help their kids make changes that their kids are not ready to make on their own and it’s not overstating it to say saving their lives,” said Gould.

“So, I struggled to some extent for about 10 years,” said Jessica.

For Jessica, it’s been a long journey, even with treatment.

“I feel like I have figured it out, but that took time and practice, in learning new coping skills and practice in trusting my body,” she said.

Now, she’s turned those lessons into a career as a Registered Dietitian, specializing in eating disorders. She shares her story now in hopes that no others will travel down her path.

“A lot of my teens when they find out in some way that I’ve struggled, they find a deeper connection with me as a clinician because they know I get it,” said Jessica.

Dr. Gould added another contributing factor of eating disorders was the pandemic, which research shows has taken a clear mental toll on teens. She said early detection is key when it comes to treatment.

If you have a loved one or know someone struggling with an eating disorder, you can contact the Eating Disorder Center at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

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