More Images
Healthcare claims data point to a surge in treatment for eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among young people, a new report suggests.

From 2018 to 2022, healthcare claims for eating disorders increased 65% nationally as a percentage of all medical claims, according to an analysis of more than 43 billion private healthcare claims conducted by the nonprofit FAIR Health.

The age distribution of claims for eating disorders also changed during the study period. In 2018, people aged 19-24 years made up the largest share, followed by those aged 14-18 years. In 2022, those positions were reversed, with the largest share falling in the 14- to 18-year-old group and the second largest in those aged 19-24.

In every year from 2018 to 2022, females accounted for more than 89% of eating disorder claims.

In a statement, FAIR Health president Robin Gelburd said that the findings in this report have implications for "stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum, including eating disorder patients and the providers who treat them, as well as payors and policy makers." Head over to Medscape to read the full story.