A new white paper from FAIR Health has revealed a significant increase in eating disorder claims in the United States from 2018 to 2022.
This report provides in-depth insights into various aspects of eating disorders, based on the analysis of over 43 billion private healthcare claim records.
Escalating Trends in Eating Disorders
The study shows a 65% rise in eating disorder claims nationally during the four-year period.
Specific disorders like avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) saw a dramatic increase of 305%, while binge-eating disorder rose by 81%, anorexia nervosa by 73%, and bulimia nervosa by 3%.
This escalation indicates a growing concern in mental health, particularly related to eating behaviors.
Co-occurring Conditions and Demographics
A notable finding of the study is that 72% of patients with eating disorders also had at least one other mental health condition. The highest occurrence was among bulimia patients (78%), with over 20% also having a substance use disorder.
Anxiety and depression were prevalent co-occurring conditions, affecting 41% and 39% of patients, respectively.
The study also observed a shift in the age distribution of eating disorders, with a higher prevalence among the 14–18 age group in 2022 compared to 19–24 in 2018.
Females accounted for more than 89% of all eating disorder claims, highlighting a significant gender disparity.
Geographical Variations and Telehealth Utilization
The increase in eating disorder claims varied by region, with the South experiencing the largest rise (84%). States in northern latitudes like Rhode Island and Massachusetts reported the highest percentage of claims.
The use of telehealth services for treating eating disorders surged by over 10,000% from 2018 to 2022, becoming the most common mode of treatment in 2022. This shift indicates a growing reliance on digital healthcare platforms for managing these disorders.
Implications and Future Directions
Robin Gelburd, President of FAIR Health, emphasized the significance of these findings for a wide range of stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, payors, and policymakers.
This report not only sheds light on the current state of eating disorders in the healthcare system but also serves as a foundation for further research in this critical area of mental health.
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