The impact of the covid 19 pandemic on eating disorders in Slovenia

Abstract Introduction Eating disorders are an important public health problem of adolescents. The purpose of the research was to examine the impact of the covid 19 pandemic on eating disorders, as adolescents were one of the most affected groups. Methods Data from the databases of the National Institute of Public Health (Outpatient Health Statistics and Database of Hospital Treatments for Diseases for the period from 2010 to 2021 and the Database of Deaths for the period from 2000 to 2021 were used for typical (F50.0) and atypical (F50.1) anorexia nervosa, typical (F50.2) and atypical (F50.3) bulimia nervosa and unspecified eating disorders (F50.9)) and the web portal To sem jaz.net for the period from 2012 to 2022. Data on of first visits and hospital treatments were processed for a twelve-year period and crude rates were calculated according to time, gender and diagnoses. Results Data showed that rates of first visits at the primary level and rates of hospital treatment did not change statistically significantly between 2010 and 2019 for women and for men. In 2020 and 2021, both rates increased for women and men. Based on the 10-year average for the period from 2010 to 2019, in 2021 the rate of first visits at primary level increased by 119 % for women and 91 % for men, and the rate of inpatient treatment increased by 50% for women and 80% for men. Girls predominated among treated at primary and secondary levels. The increase in first visits and hospital treatments was mainly due to anorexia nervosa. In the period from 2000 to 2021, eating disorders were the main cause of death for 24 people in Slovenia. In 2022, there were 3.7 times more questions in the field of eating disorders at web portal To sem jaz.net than in 2019. Conclusions Eating disorders are chronic diseases that develop over many years. The increase in mental health problems associated with the covid 19 pandemic may be reflected in the increase in eating disorders in the following years as well. Key messages • Eating disorders are an important public health problem of adolescents. • The increase in mental health problems associated with the covid 19 pandemic may be reflected in the increase in eating disorders in the following years as well.