Overview

• The KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse reports a 50% rise in eating disorder cases among girls aged 12 to 17, increasing from 101 to 150 per 10,000 insured between 2019 and 2023.
• Social media's self-optimization culture is identified as a key driver, exacerbating body dissatisfaction and psychological vulnerabilities in adolescents.
• While teenage boys saw minimal change, with cases rising slightly from 34 to 36 per 10,000, women aged 18 to 24 experienced a significant 25.1% increase in diagnoses.
• In 2023, nearly 460,000 people in Germany were diagnosed with eating disorders, 7.5% of whom were girls aged 12 to 17, according to KKH estimates.
• Experts, including KKH psychologist Franziska Klemm, recommend fostering critical media literacy, promoting positive self-image, and encouraging social media breaks to combat these trends.