Overview

• KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse's analysis shows eating disorder cases among 12–17-year-old girls increased from 101 to 150 per 10,000 insured between 2019 and 2023, marking a 50% rise.
• The report highlights social media self-optimization trends as a key driver, fostering body dissatisfaction and psychological strain, particularly in adolescent girls.
• While boys of the same age saw only a 4% increase, women aged 18–24 experienced a 25.1% rise in eating disorder diagnoses during the same period.
• In 2023, nearly 460,000 people in Germany were diagnosed with eating disorders, with 7.5% of cases occurring in girls aged 12–17.
• Psychologist Franziska Klemm emphasizes the importance of promoting positive self-image and critical engagement with beauty ideals, noting that education alone is insufficient as a preventive measure.